If you wait a little while, Linotype is pretty much going make all other font management systems obsolete...for free.

tell me more about Linotype’s solution, if you can.

I hate Fontbook, and I suffer with Suitcase, I would love to hear about a good solution.

Me too! I wanna know, I wanna know so bad, what have Linotype got up their veritable sleeve!

Something efficient, utilitarian and aesthetically satisfying, something fast, something clear and simple, something...

{n.a–b}
est.1971

I have a copy of it, but have yet to use it. Paging Dan Reynolds....

It was shown at TypeCon. It’s an iTunes-style font manager that, from what I saw, works well and has a nice interface (again, it looks a lot like iTunes). It’ll also allow you to do some EULA management and even browse and buy fonts (supposedly Linotype is opening this up to other foundries).

And it’s free.

Terry, how did you get a copy?

I can’t say anything about it yet, sorry. But news will come soon. You won’t miss it, I promise! Maybe some people who saw it at TypeCon can share their recollections.

from what i saw of the software, it seemed very ipressive. i wasn’t able to test any actual “font management” with it, but i’m assuming that it will be pretty seamless. i’m also assuming it’ll be avail for both mac and windows, right dan?

I’m happy with FontAgent Pro. I have used Font Reserve and Suitcase. When I switched to Tiger I also tried FontBook. However, FontBook and Suitcase gagged on my collection. Literally. You should have heard the awful noise. The Linotype package looks interesting and seemed to operate smoothly — from what I saw at TypeCon. However, I hesitate to use ...

Terry, I think you have the font explorer disc that’s a navigator of Linotype’s library. I mistakenly thought this was the font manager as well.

Hey Dan!

Can you get Cristoph to return any e-mails?

:D

>Linotype is pretty much going make all other font management systems obsolete…for free.

A Linotype rep will be talking about it at the TechForum preceeding ATypI in Helsinki.

http://www.atypi.org/07_Helsinki/30_program/30_other_events/10_typetech

It looks exciting, but we have an NDA with Linotype so I can’t go into detail on what I know.

Cheers, Si

I am also interested in this...I use FontBook but it seems to bog down all my applications during opening sequence (loading fonts...10%, 20% etc.) It’d be cool if I could have all my fonts loaded into an application but they’re all disabled until the program says ’I need this font and this font’ so they get enabled. Maybe I’m wishing for the impossible. It’d just save some strain on my system.

Other font managers offer that.

Does anyone know why Extensis hasn’t created an auto-enabling option for the PC version of Suitcase? Is there something in the OS that makes this difficult, or is Extensis simply in no rush to build this ability into the PC version?

I don’t suppose anyone in-the-know can mention whether or not the new Linotype application will be able to auto-enable on PC?

“Terry, I think you have the font explorer disc that’s a navigator of Linotype’s library. I mistakenly thought this was the font manager as well.”

I think you’re right. Since my computer is just now up and running I hadn’t actually tried it yet. My bad! :)

“Does anyone know why Extensis hasn’t created an auto-enabling option for the PC version of Suitcase?”

From my exprience it doesn’t do it on the Mac version either. Its a real pain in the arse. The minute an application does that seemlessly I will bow before it.

WIll the Linotype software handle auto-activation? Will it use a plug-in/XTension for InDesign and Quark XPress? If so, that’s a pretty ambitious move into the software business. Software engineers don’t come cheap.
One would assume that if the product will be free, it’s main purpose is to *encourage* people to purchase Linotype’s fonts.
It would seem that there is at least a little room there for conflicts of interest. For example, managing OpenType fonts is much easier since most OpenType fonts on the market have been recently released and are from major vendors. It could be that support for Postscript and Mac TrueType might be lacking in the hope of selling people new editions of typefaces they already own. There was some similar discussion around this topic concerning Adobe’s Garamond Premier Pro. There are some nice features in those products, but it’s really a tough sell for people who already have a licensed version of Garamond.
That said, Adobe used to sell both type and manager. But then, Adobe was also selling PageMaker and Illustrator.

Will the Linotype Application support PC??

They are, from what I was told at TypeCon, waiting until ATypI to release it specifically because they’re readying the PC version.

I can’t wait to try this Linotype app. I’ve tried Suitcase and FontAgent pro on my 2Ghz G5 iMac w/1Gb RAM and couldn’t stand either of them. I’ve been contemplating MasterJuggler for a while now, but all indications from Alsoft point to little or no development of this product.

I hope we finally get a font manager that actually works AND has a good UI.

fingers xrossed.

Does Linotype happen to need any beta testers? I’d be happy to try out on a PC. Windows needs a good font manager... it seems like the Mac gets the best ones.

I’ve been quite happy with Suitcase 9.0 for PC; really my only complaint is that I’m lazy and get irritated turning on and off the hundreds of custom sets I’ve put together. (I swear I’ll donate my left leg for auto-activation in Adobe Apps on PC!).

I installed the trial of Suitcase 9.2 but wasn’t all the fond of it so went back to 9.0. It’s worked very well for me but, as I said, I’ve been chomping at the bit for something that will auto-activate.

FYI: The LinoType beta has been released, and can be downloaded for free. Bad news, its only a MAC release.

Read more at Typographica: http://typographi.com/001028.php

http://www.linotype.com/fontexplorerX

awesome, thank you!

I have downloaded it and am evaluating it, if all goes well the printing company I work for will be dumping suitcase for FontExplorer X.

How much is this program going to cost when it’s out of beta?

From my understanding it was going to remain free, but my superiors refuse to believe that.

FontExplorer X is free, and will remain free. But your superiors could contact Linotype directly if they would like more information. Just pass them along this e-mail address: info@linotype.com