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Font management gets an upgrade

JimD's picture
Submitted by JimD on Wed, 2008-12-03 17:22.

Suitcase Fusion 2

I've written a full review of Extensis Suitcase Fusion 2, which you can read at Macworld's Creative Notes blog, where I covered the user interface, auto-activation, and my real-world experience using the application.

If you've used it in the past, or are looking for something a little more powerful than Apple's Font Book app or Linotype's FontExplorer X, then this review should answer any questions you have about the latest Suitcase upgrade.

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Alex's picture

FontExplorer X

Submitted by Alex on Thu, 2008-12-04 09:49.

Sounds like a good product. But what are the advantages you found to this over FontExplorer X?

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JimD's picture

Several reasons:

Submitted by JimD on Thu, 2008-12-04 15:29.
  • Fusion is a commercial product, not free. Linotype could kill off FontExplorer at any time because they aren't making money off it. This is one of Extensis' flagship products, ensuring continued development and support.
  • Fusion can store all your fonts in a single database file after scanning for corruption. This makes for faster activation and a number of other benefits.
  • Fusion doesn't need to be open to work
  • Ability to auto-activate ONLY the single font you need, rather than the entire font family (when you need FontABC Bold, Fusion will ONLY activate FontABC Bold, while other font managers auto-activate the entire FontABC font, including regular, italic, black, condensed, etc.)
  • Easier to backup your font collection - 1 database file to backup
  • Fusion doesn't mess with System Fonts
  • Tear-off previews
  • Fusion comes with FontDoctor, an excellent application.
  • Much cleaner/nicer interface

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Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

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archmedia's picture

as a FEX user...

Submitted by archmedia on Fri, 2008-12-05 01:26.

  • i've never had problems turning on just one font without having to enable the whole font-family.
  • backing up my collection isn't a problem seeing as FEX manages it for me. i keep it all in one designated folder
  • to say fusion is a "much cleaner/nicer interface" seems a little far fetched seeing as they look really similar!


    in the same breath,


  • the idea that it can manage the fonts without actually being on is appealing.
  • not being freeware is a catch-22, it's far more appealing to use a freesoftware that rather stable and reliable, though you are right that being freeware means they could completely kill it off at any given time. (just like they did to the beta PC version). However, don't be fooled into thinking that just cause it's a commercial software that they're immune from killing that off at any point in time too! (yes, i've had it happen in the past with purchased software. and in this economy, NO ONE is immune from bankruptcy, thus making a dead software!)
  • not messing with system fonts is definitely appealing.

    So all in all, I am curious about it and will give it a test try. However, given this economy and how freelancers are becoming more and more budget minded, FEX is a great free alternative that i just might have to stick with...

    EDIT:
    if you're looking for the PC Linotype Beta, then let me know...
    it's glitchy on Vista, but if you set it to run as XP within Vista it actually runs better then it ever had in the past.
    ____________________________________________
    Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
    www.ArchMedia.us

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    Alex's picture

    Great point-by-point overview

    Submitted by Alex on Thu, 2008-12-04 22:43.

    Some great points there. I think the biggest two are that it doesn't have to be open to activate fonts and that it doesn't mess with system fonts.

    It's definitely a product I'll keep an eye on, and I think your point about product life-span is a great one - FEX hasn't really been updated in a year (and the windows version seems to be a permanent, unavailable beta), but archmedia's point about commercial being no more stable (business wise) is very valid.

    Thanks for a great review, and this equally useful run-through. I'm also glad ot see that Extensis is getting back out there and creating great products.

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    spigot's picture

    Wary

    Submitted by spigot on Fri, 2008-12-05 06:18.

    I've been burned before by Extensis... FEX has given me zero problems for the past few years after many struggles with Suitcase, and that other one (what was it called?).

    I'm going to need a big community WOW before I change my font workflow again.

    spigotdesign.com

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    pokie's picture

    ditto. FEX is awesome and

    Submitted by pokie on Fri, 2008-12-05 13:49.

    ditto. FEX is awesome and I've converted the 15 or so designers in my department to it. Suitcase/Fusion/whatever you call it was a nightmare.

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    JimD's picture

    Some additional notes:

    Submitted by JimD on Fri, 2008-12-05 14:04.

    I agree that Suitcase was buggy in OSX in the past. This is one of the reasons I like Fusion 2 so much now. It's NOT buggy at all. I haven't come across a single issue with it. If you're happy with FEX, stick with it. It's a nice little app.

    I can tell you that you're going to be getting a little surprise from Linotype at Macworld Expo in January regarding FontExplorer.

    Keep your eyes open for it.

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    Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

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    spigot's picture

    Good or bad?

    Submitted by spigot on Fri, 2008-12-05 16:25.

    A good surprise?

    spigotdesign.com

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    JimD's picture

    probably both...

    Submitted by JimD on Fri, 2008-12-05 22:11.

    I don't have all the details just yet.

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    Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

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    pokie's picture

    You can't do this to me...

    Submitted by pokie on Wed, 2008-12-10 18:16.

    You can't do this to me...

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    steveballmer's picture

    LOL

    Submitted by steveballmer on Sun, 2008-12-07 19:07.

    Who needs to manage fonts?
    You just put them in the computer and that's it!

    http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

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    JimD's picture

    Thank you captain jackass

    Submitted by JimD on Sun, 2008-12-07 20:39.

    I don't think I could have slept tonight without your insight!

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    Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

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    3dogmama's picture

    LOL. Those who dance are

    Submitted by 3dogmama on Sun, 2008-12-07 21:59.

    LOL.

    Those who dance are thought mad by those who do not hear the music.

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    jozefk's picture

    LOL aha

    Submitted by jozefk on Mon, 2008-12-08 18:57.

    ahahhaha

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    steveballmer's picture

    :-(

    Submitted by steveballmer on Wed, 2008-12-10 06:03.

    ... are you people mocking me or something!
    I can buy you and your cheap little "blog" here!

    http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

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    3dogmama's picture

    Hey Toto

    Submitted by 3dogmama on Wed, 2008-12-10 13:30.

    I believe the words you are striving so hard to recall go something like this:

    I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too!

    "Those who dance are thought mad by those who do not hear the music."

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    JimD's picture

    Hahahaha!!!

    Submitted by JimD on Wed, 2008-12-10 17:23.

    I just spit coffee all over my keyboard... LOL!

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    Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

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    Alex's picture

    Fontcase

    Submitted by Alex on Tue, 2008-12-23 11:44.

    Here's a (very brief) write-up of another font management app that's out soon:
    http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/21/beta-beat-fontcase/

    Looks interesting though, as the article mentions, it may not be for pro users. It's nice to see the font management competition hotting up though as it can only mean good things for us end users!

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