Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!Ray_Ray_Davidson
From: Ray_Ray_Davidson@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Suitcase versus Font/DA Juggler
Message-ID: <2584@cup.portal.com>
Date: 19 Jan 88 16:57:32 GMT
References: <667@thorin.cs.unc.edu>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 43
XPortal-User-Id: 1.1001.1407


ALSoft was showing a new version of Font/DA Juggler - F/DA J Plus - at Expo.

In a word (or a few) it is better than Suitcase. (I own both the programs. I
bought Suitcase after seeing lots of favorable comments, and used it
extensively with no problems, but Font/DA Juggler blows it away. I bought it at
Expo)

First, F/DA J is MF compatible, allowing opening and closing fonts and DAs
under MF. (Suitcase is coming out with a free upgrade Real Soon Now.) It only
allows 10 files to be open at once, so you have to pack individual fonts and
DAs together.  (I believe this restriction applies to Suitcase, too). It allows easy access to FKEYs (not quite as easy as Font Key
Manager, but installation is easier). You can use F/DA J to choose the system
beep. (in an easier manner than with IBeep2). Files to be opened can be
anywhere on the disk, as opposed to in specific folders in the system folder,
as required with Suitcase. (This is not a tremendous advantage; the system
folder is the obvious place to keep them.) It includes a utility to resolve
font numbering conflicts - real handy if you have lots of fonts. It allows easy
display of available fonts in that font (like MenuFonts) and in any style
(bold, italic, etc., unlike MenuFonts). It has facility for compressing fonts
to save disk space; fonts are automatically decompressed when needed.

There's a pretty long list of features for Font/DA Juggler Plus. If you want to
know if it does something in particular, just ask. Since Suitcase is about the
same price, I would say that Font/DA Juggler is by far the better value. (I
voted with my wallet on this one.) One wonders why Suitcase (which is certainly
 a fine program) has gotten all the press, even winning a MacUser award, and
Font/DA Juggler has been virtually un-talked about in the press. Maybe because
Software Supply (maker of Suitcase) is here in CA, and ALSoft is in TX?

BTW, F/DA J is an INIT that you just drag to the system folder, like Suitcase.

Standard disclaimer: I have no connection with either ALSoft or Software Supply
other than being a satisfied customer of both, and giving them both more money
than my wife would like.

Ray Davidson
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