FontExplorer Review - the iTunes of fonts
mck (0 points) | Wed, 2005-11-30 20:59<!-- image temporarily removed, if you are an admin, please move the file to CB's server
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-->It was while searching for a Suitcase alternative that I found LinoType FontExplorer. Before this program came along, DTP pros had two choices: use Extensis Suitcase, which had a horrible impact on system performance, or hobble along with Font Book, which crapped out after about 400 fonts.
In the Mac and DTP community, there have been many complaints about Suitcase. It usually behaved for me, so it became the overseer of about 7200 fonts that I have carefully collected over many years. However, last week, the program refused to launch, and when it did, it did so very slowly. I erased the font caches, and did a few other things, but it still didn't want to launch. I was about to reinstall Suitcase, when I realized that the real solution was to find something else to use. And I did, thanks to Google (unfortunately, I did not have internet access around the time this was posted).
The first step was to add my 7200 fonts to the program. At the first run, the Setup Assistant did this in about 4 minutes (not bad)!
With the help of this program, you can automatically activate fonts that are needed for a certain file, and it also has several suitcase-like functions. I could scroll through my list of fonts with no problem at all, something that could not be done with Suitcase.
I didn't call it the iTunes of fonts for nothing: it has a beautiful user interface in metal, which is similar to iTunes. At the right of the main window there is the font library, which you can make Smart Fontlists with similar to smart playlists.
FontExplorer also has a few things that are similar to iTunes: a font store, for instance. There are even mock CD covers, and you can buy fonts thru Linotype's website.
The best part of FontExplorer is that it is free - you don't even have to give them your email address, just click on the following link to get it right away. You can't go wrong with it, and it's worth a try.
FontExplorer download
FontExplorer website
(Sorry for the crappy english, it got translated from here)
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I use suitcase at work but decided to try FontExplorer at home. At the time I installed it a few months ago the program was still a BETA. Good to hear that is is working with a large number of fonts. I haven't had the nerve to add mine all. Suitcase has certainly given me trouble over the years it would be great to have an alternative that was stable and especially FREE!
I've been following FontExplorer since they put out the release candidates. I'm pretty excited about it and hopefully we can add it to the NetBoot image at school. I'm really hoping to get it working... the entire student body is pretty fed up with Font Book and we're not crazy about the idea of spending on Suitcase.
Aren't you forgetting about FontAgent Pro? That's a pretty good one compared to Suitcase, but FontExplorer X blows them both out of the water.
Oh it would be fantastic if my school would replace Suitcase with this, but I don't have my hopes up.
I have installed FontExplorerX on all 40 Macs in my production environment. In my experience, it is vastly superior to Suitcase on a number of levels. And...It's...FREE! The only problem I experienced with it is when letting it manage system fonts (by copying), sometimes Microsoft programs get unhappy that they can't find their default fonts. While this is easily solved, it would be nice to have a warning about it before choosing to let FontExplorerX manage the system fonts. Looks like Suitcase is going the way of Quark. ;-)
if u're into windows
i would reccomend bitstream fontnav
its a little cute app that comes with corel.
you can actually copy it from an already installed corel. no need for a setup.
i use it with over 8000 fonts installed and it is instantly fast.
you can make groups and install or remove them on the fly.
it works by adding shortcuts to the windows/fonts folder.
and you can browse the fonts using your cursor keys which is always faster than the mouse.
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always outnumbered, never outgunned
http://www.behance.net/mimimi
thanks for the tip on FontNav. I was using a couple of other apps :The Font Thing:
i found it was discontinued and found out that if I downloaded the demo for Corel 12, i could get a full, updated version of FontNav. Cheers!
I've been using it since September. I posted a few articles about it at CreativeGuy here and here.
The only beef I have with it is that AutoActivation doesn't yet work with Adobe CreativeSuite2 apps yet. But I'm sure that's coming ASAP. Besides the fact that it's free, I've found that it's much less of a resource hog than Suitcase.
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No auto-activation with CS2 programs? Pardon me while I stifle a 'bwahahahaha'.
I'll give it a look-see one of these days, but only when FAP stops working wonderfully. ;-)
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work with pete!
I couldn't wait to switch from Suitcase to FontExplorer X. I now use it at home and have installed on all the Mac at work. I have had no problems with it at all (apart from the odd Quark glitch) and it keeps getting better with every release.
As for being a little like iTunes, that has to be the understatement of the century. If I didn't know better I would think that the same team built this as built iTunes versions 3 and 4 as the similarities are uncanny. This is what FontBook should be.
One of my favourite features is the font export options that allow me to export the fonts and bundle them into a disk image in one go.
My only wish was that the font store was a little better. At the moment the browsing UI isn't great and you can only by LinoType fonts easily. I love the idea of the Store and believe that it could encourage designers to start buying fonts rather than getting them from various illegal means.
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http://mijlee.com
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i've been using fontexplorer for a month or so now and it is absolutely brilliant. best piece of software ive ever downloaded for free, right behind quicksilver that is : ). glad it got recognized here.
xacto!
Do I have to uninstall Suitacase first?
Just downloaded FontExplorer X a couple of days ago. i do like the UI, but since then my Mac G4 will not go to sleep, and in QuickBooks Pro, the scroll in windows goes nuts, and will not let me access line items at the top of the window. Anyone else experience bugs like this? Incidentally, I'd been using just FontBook (should I disable it? How?), and have worked with Suitcase (numerous versions, don't like it), FontReserve (HATED it), and ATM Deluxe (personal favorite, sigh).
Ooof. Did my homework, and have a solution in case anyone else experiences the same quandry. First, startup in Safe Mode, then undo FontBook. Instructions: http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/undofontbook.html#Anchor-Undoing-47857
Corel no longer has the trial for GS 12. I am (again) looking for a good (PC) font handling program. Do we have any suggestions? I know that Font Explorer is designing a PC version but it's not up yet, dangitt.