[G4] Font managers and OS choices?

[Roger Harris]

I am a loooong time (before computers) graphic artist. I have been on 
computers since 1991. I provide support for a few graphics folk and some 
artist. I have at least 5,000 fonts on my work station.

I have used all the major font management programs on OS 9.x and all 
versions of OSX. The best font manager on any platform or OS version is 
Font Reserve. Suitcase (SC) is very good, but not as good. Extensis owns 
Suitcase and has recently acquired Font Reserve (FR). OS 10.3 is causing 
a need for an update on SC and FR. I am sure Extensis is doing 
something. They will be rolling the programs together sometime; When? I 
am guessing that the next fix on FR will let you go until the next major 
OS update you make. I haven't had a paid update on FR since OSX v1.

FR 3.1.xx will install and work well for OS X and Classic.

You will also need a program called Font Doctor or Font Doctor X; it 
makes much deeper font repairs than the font managers. This is a real 
must have for OS X, as it is very picky about the condition of fonts.

You can just get you old fonts on a zip and move them. SC or FR will 
install them and organize them. The fonts are good in OS9 and OSX; FR 
will handle all updates transparently.

You are in a place were you need to make a plan for moving to OSX; OS 9 
is at the end. It is costly to move to OSX; all your programs need to be 
updated. Panther will run almost as snappy on your mac as OS 9. It has a 
font manager but it is too buggy at this point and will never be good 
for professional work. You should plan to go to OS X 10.3 and try to 
update Quark to 6 as soon as you can, although it works fine in Classic. 
OR Adobe might make a move to InDesign CS very attractive. I don't know 
if you will want FR before or after Quark, but I recommend going to OSX 
before buying font management software.

A 2.x version of Disk Warrior will work fine for Panther for quit 
awhile; you will boot to OS 9 before booting to DW. Panther has a lot of 
free and cheap shareware utilities available that will keep it humming.

OSX needs at least 512 mb of RAM. after you get your main programs to 
OSX and get adjusted to the new EVERYTHING, you will never want to see 
OS 9 again.

Roger

***************************************

Ascender wrote:
> Hello fellow G4 owners
> 
> I have a G4; quicksilver 800 and admit that I am slow to make changes.
> 
> Previously I had a 7600/120 for years and managed those fonts; saving my
> favorites; tossing the rest.  When I moved to the G4 I gave up my favorite
> fonts and stuck with those that came with the computer.  I would like to go
> back and get some of those fonts and was wondering the best way to do this:
> to use my iomega zip drive? To go out and purchase a font manager?
> 
> I am also dragging my feet on this decision as I am still in OS 9.2;
> concerned about what will happen should I convert to classic mode; let alone
> OS X.2 or OS.X.3.  Will I need to pay for further updates on the font
> manager?  Will I need to toss out fonts with each upgrade?  Do fonts act
> differently in OS X; let alone OS X.3?
> 
> I work mostly out of Quark 5.0; and don¹t have enough funds to update it and
> OS x.3 and Disc Warrior etc.  Could someone suggest not only a good font
> manager; but a OS mode (classic? 9.2? OSX.3?) that will allow me to work
> without the constant need of upgrade?  Am I alone in this struggle?
> 
> Thank you for your time and attention.
> 
> ascender at earthlink.net
> 
> 
> ----------
> G4ist, a listserv for discussion of everything G4.
> FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/G4.html>.
> Send a message to <G4-DIGEST at themacintoshguy.com> to switch to the digest.
> 
> XRouter | Share your DSL or cable modem between multiple computers! 
> Dr. Bott | Now $139.99      <http://www.drbott.com/prod/xrouter.html>
> 
> Dr. Bott LLC   4-port USB Hub in translucent Graphite!
> Dr. Bott LLC   <http://www.drbott.com/prod/ghub.html>
> 
> Small Dog Electronics   http://www.smalldog.com  | Canon Digital Cameras |
> --Quicksilver & refurbished G4's arriving daily! |   and Camcorders!!    |
> 
> MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! 
> Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
> 
> OS X News, Dr.Mac, Forums, Tutorials, Tips, Hints, FAQ?s - http://www.osxfaq.com
> 
>