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From: sichermn@beach.csulb.edu (Jeff Sicherman)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Font Managers
Message-ID: <1990Dec2.180307.24168@beach.csulb.edu>
Date: 2 Dec 90 18:03:07 GMT
Organization: Cal State Long Beach
Lines: 47


 I am confused about which of the several font managers now coming on
the market to get. I am aware of the reviews in the two recent PC Magazine
issues but that hasnt helped with the decision despite the information.

 Our hardware is an AST 286 Premium with 2 meg of memory, mostly mapped
as expanded now but will be converting most to extended for windows soon.
HP Laserjet II printer, *no* LJ III upgrade and no Postscript cartridge
currently. We might get either a cartridge or a Laserjet III. (I know
there is a *big* price difference but there are other issues than print
quality/technology ... volume and convenience = number of machines.) 

 We are using MS Windows 3.0, MS Excel for Windows, MS Word for Windows
and are getting new Formworx for Windows. (plus a few other minor but
rarely used and not print-critical programs). We still are an intensive
user of MS Word for DOS and will probably continue to do so because of
speed considerations with our hardware (both processor and printer).
Have ordered upgrade to 5.5 .

 Do not use cartridge fonts, have a somewhat extensive library of soft
fonts, including some from Softcraft and their Laserfonts program. We
also have their WYSIFONT program which made fonts for previous versions
of MS Windows (bitmapped) and have received an upgrade notice for the
MSW 3.0 compatible version - hence the decision point. Also have the
Bitstream package that was offered with MS Word (DOS) last upgrade: the
generator program plus Times and Helv outlines.

 Where do we go from here that will preserve our investment somewhat,
not *require* hardware investment now to be usable, provide the option
to upgrade the hardware later without losing font investment (not so
much the current as any new outline sets we get), provide the most
font selection for the buck (does the adobe cartridge plus ATM become
a factor here over multiple Bitstream Soft fonts later ?). Minor diffs
in font quality are not that important to us and we're really not into
extensive postscript graphics, or many graphics at all for that matter.

 I suppose one option is to temporize and get the WYSIFONT upgrade for
$35 and see which way we are going with hardware and what the world says
about Facelift, ATM, HP's offering (name?), etc. However, the initial 
prices are not that different so that's not the criterion, it's the
long-term cost and effects of committing to a particular one that are
the main concern.

Please comment on all the above named (unnamed) packages. Thanks very much.

Jeff Sicherman
up the net without a .sig