[FAQ] Font Book vs. Other font management sftwre

[nyuchi]

I need to purchase font management software asap for OS X -- however I hear that Panther has got this "Font Book" which is supposedly good enough to replace ATM or Extensis Suitcase. Anyone out there have any experience int he comparison of these? Please note: I am still using Quark in the classic environment, so I need font activation in both.

I am a little bitter to go and buy the 10.3 software at full retail, considering my machine is less than 6 mo. old, but will do so if this font book is what its cracked up to be...

[reaverx]

slow - buggy - simply unusable: messed up my system!

[modernangel]

Font book seems a bit buggy for now and not up to the quality of suitcases yet. Also I don't think the Panther font book will be of any use to you in Classic environment so it looks like Suitcases is the option for you, at least for now...

Originally Posted by nyuchi

I need to purchase font management software asap for OS X -- however I hear that Panther has got this "Font Book" which is supposedly good enough to replace ATM or Extensis Suitcase. Anyone out there have any experience int he comparison of these? Please note: I am still using Quark in the classic environment, so I need font activation in both.

I am a little bitter to go and buy the 10.3 software at full retail, considering my machine is less than 6 mo. old, but will do so if this font book is what its cracked up to be...

[toast]

FB won't compete with professional management, obviously. Apple is not aiming at replacing existing, cash-generating programs !

But FB is quite nice for low-end users, indeed.
I still use ATM Deluxe on MAC OS 9 ! Yeah baby, this still exists.

[Bruce_F]

I just wanted to put another player into the game.

If you're looking for a good font management program, don't pass up FontAgent Pro without checking it out.

I believe you can download a free trial to take it for a spin.

It's the "new kid" on the block, but it's gaining popularity fast.

Find it at Insider Software

[nyuchi]

thanks for all your insight. I was just going to ask about FontAgent Pro -- cause someone else told me to check it out. I am in the testing process right now, but so far so good. I might be sold on FontAgent.

I am curious if anyone else out there has full experience with FontAgent Pro??? please share...

[mindbend]

I have used all pro font managers at great length (except Juggler, which just recently became OS X ready). Anyway, this is just my opinion, but here it is:

There is no perfect font manager. They all have compromises. IMHO, Suitcase is the leader of the pack, though I am still continually plagued by fonts that simply won't preview (other apps preview them fine). Really irritating. All part of that "no perfect FM" I was talking about. To my knowledge, Suitcase is STILL the only manager that allows multiple font viewing for comparison. Here's a clue to the competition, DESIGNERS LIKE TO COMPARE FONTS TO EACH OTHER.

Font Agent Pro was my choice for the last nine months, but man is that thing slow. The auto-activation is very quirky and I could never get it to work in Photoshop. Only reason I stuck with it was because it previewed all my fonts properly unlike Suitcase. Installing fonts in FAP is one of life's worst experiences. Second only to installing fonts (I'm talking lots of fonts, like low thousands) in Font Book.I wasted this entire weekend, like a dozen hours, trying to get FB to work well with two thousand fonts. What was I thinking? Don't waste your time.

Font Reserve was OK, I just didn't like its interface and it had its own laundry list of flat out bugs.

Suitcase databases fonts very quickly, now has built-in quicksearch, multiple font comparisons and runs well on DP G4s or better. Not so swift on older boxes. Course, nothing in OS X runs swiftly on older boxes, so it's no exception.

I am really disappointed in FB's performance. REALLY disappointed. Everything else about it (except only being able to view one font at a time) is really good.

[nyuchi]

mindbend:

Are you saying the only main cons to FontAgent Pro are:

1) Its Slow
2) You can't view 2 fonts simultaneously
3) Auto Activation in Photoshop is faulty

so that means Suitcase is really that much speedier?? I didn't really care about fonts installing on FAP -- I just decided to take a lunch break, though it did probably take about a half hour or more just to import 4000+ fonts...

And I've never used the "viewing 2 fonts simultaneously" feature -- so I guess I didn't know what I was missing.

And so far I haven't noticed problems with my photoshop, but I still have to do a series of tests.

what it comes down to is really would like to support the small guys if you know what I mean...so while I am rooting for FAP, I am also trying to be cautious and make sure to purchase the best professional app...