Printer's Apprentice is fantastic!
I can't remember why I had to move on from Font Thing because it was just perfect at what i needed... i think it didn't like otf files (?)... anyway, Printer's Apprentice looks/feels like a build from Font Thing... and is upgraded. Check it out here: http://www.loseyourmind.com/
Dave Crosby - 11 years ago
Years ago I found the" Font Thing" and was happy until my font collection began to grow.
When it reached 25,000 I started looking for something that got updated.
I lucked into MainType when it was first being alpha-tested. That was when I met the owner, Erwin Denissen,and his friend and resident genius, Bhikkhu Pesala. They are on top of everything! Any problem presented by any purchaser has always been addressed and often solved within hours!
My collection is now over 100,000 fonts and I wouldn't trust it to any other Font Manager.
I have watched over the years as their products (Font Creator, MainType, ScanaHand, etc.) have become what I consider to be the cream of the industry.
Sincerely, Dave Crosby
Joyce - 14 years ago
I've been using FontExpert in windows, it suits all my needs. Then only and big trouble is that it has no auto-categorizing fonts, I have to assign categories to every font, but only need to do it once when you install it, if you reinstall or install on another computer, you've to re-catogrize them. Other than that, I love that FontExpert's let me create and DELETE the categories. On the same panel, it let me organize fonts, at the same time, and search fonts. FontAgent Pro really lacks this, it only let me search fonts in a new window.
Now I have switched to mac, and FontExpert only have an old mac version. I have used FontAgentPro, Suitcase Fusion 2 too, and I saw demo videos about FontXplorer, I conclude that I found FontExpert the most effective. It is easy at organizing and searching, and it let me compare many fonts side by side, and the biggest thing I like it is to preview uninstalled fonts! Other font managers all need to install fonts (though not activated) in order to preview them.
So FontExpert: easy organizing and searching, compare fonts side by side, preview uninstalled fonts, auto font activation. Only trouble is to categorize fonts by yourself.
Now I'm still searching a mac font manager that is good like fontExpert.
Tammy - 15 years ago
I use X-Fonter 6 from Blacksun Software. Been using it since version 4.
Darlene - 15 years ago
I've been using Font Reserve (an Extensis product) for a couple years now. Since I purchased it, Extensis has not released any updates. I assumed this was because they were putting all their "eggs" into the Suitcase basket. So I downloaded a trial for Suitcase for Windows. Totally disappointed. Nearly identical to Font Reserve. Started researching font software (including downloading a lot of products with trial software). I ended up purchasing Printer's Apprentice. The product is exceptional for its features, it is intuitive and the developer is very responsive. For example, while using the trial product, I reported a problem I was having with it. The developer duplicated the problem on his machines, created a fix and sent me a link. I hadn't even bought the product yet!! Printer's Apprentice can compare fonts side-by-side using your chosen text (something neither Font Reserve nor Suitcase can do), provides numerous formats for printing samples, and, unlike Font Reserve, while pressing the down arrow to view fonts on your hard drive, you don't get an annoying beep and a pop-up indicating it can't display a font because it is already installed. To continue, you have to click a "close" button (or something similar), then go back to the font list and continue on until the next beep and pop-up appear. It is far worse than just annoying. The price for Printer's Apprentice is more than reasonable (and less than one-third the price of Suitcase). After the quick and easy installation, you can immediately jump in with both feet or use the help files to get you up and running. I downloaded trials for many other products and found them either feature deficient, too expensive for what they offered, or not very intuitive. You just can't go wrong with Printer's Apprentice. Download and use the free trial (and if you run into any issues, report them to the developer), and you'll see why I'm totally sold on Printer's Apprentice. It is everything most people look for in font management software. P.S. The developer did not pay me to write this. I'm just thrilled to have found Printer's Apprentice.
I currently use Fonty Python, but I'll admit that my decision was based solely on the name. I'll be checking out the Linux options on this list to see how they compare. Thanks!
I use Linotype FontExplorer X for Mac. Even though it has it's problems (like slow starting and crushing every now and then) it is powerful font management tool. And it's free.
you review was dated sept 5 2008 , so i assumed you would have also reviewed the UTS client and server from extensis - which is the upgrade path for suitcase users - covers many features users have been asking for (ldap , keywords, etc) and has eliminated many bugs from the suitcase autoactivation issues
Printer's Apprentice is fantastic!
I can't remember why I had to move on from Font Thing because it was just perfect at what i needed... i think it didn't like otf files (?)... anyway, Printer's Apprentice looks/feels like a build from Font Thing... and is upgraded. Check it out here: http://www.loseyourmind.com/
Years ago I found the" Font Thing" and was happy until my font collection began to grow.
When it reached 25,000 I started looking for something that got updated.
I lucked into MainType when it was first being alpha-tested. That was when I met the owner, Erwin Denissen,and his friend and resident genius, Bhikkhu Pesala. They are on top of everything! Any problem presented by any purchaser has always been addressed and often solved within hours!
My collection is now over 100,000 fonts and I wouldn't trust it to any other Font Manager.
I have watched over the years as their products (Font Creator, MainType, ScanaHand, etc.) have become what I consider to be the cream of the industry.
Sincerely, Dave Crosby
I've been using FontExpert in windows, it suits all my needs. Then only and big trouble is that it has no auto-categorizing fonts, I have to assign categories to every font, but only need to do it once when you install it, if you reinstall or install on another computer, you've to re-catogrize them. Other than that, I love that FontExpert's let me create and DELETE the categories. On the same panel, it let me organize fonts, at the same time, and search fonts. FontAgent Pro really lacks this, it only let me search fonts in a new window.
Now I have switched to mac, and FontExpert only have an old mac version. I have used FontAgentPro, Suitcase Fusion 2 too, and I saw demo videos about FontXplorer, I conclude that I found FontExpert the most effective. It is easy at organizing and searching, and it let me compare many fonts side by side, and the biggest thing I like it is to preview uninstalled fonts! Other font managers all need to install fonts (though not activated) in order to preview them.
So FontExpert: easy organizing and searching, compare fonts side by side, preview uninstalled fonts, auto font activation. Only trouble is to categorize fonts by yourself.
Now I'm still searching a mac font manager that is good like fontExpert.
I use X-Fonter 6 from Blacksun Software. Been using it since version 4.
I've been using Font Reserve (an Extensis product) for a couple years now. Since I purchased it, Extensis has not released any updates. I assumed this was because they were putting all their "eggs" into the Suitcase basket. So I downloaded a trial for Suitcase for Windows. Totally disappointed. Nearly identical to Font Reserve. Started researching font software (including downloading a lot of products with trial software). I ended up purchasing Printer's Apprentice. The product is exceptional for its features, it is intuitive and the developer is very responsive. For example, while using the trial product, I reported a problem I was having with it. The developer duplicated the problem on his machines, created a fix and sent me a link. I hadn't even bought the product yet!! Printer's Apprentice can compare fonts side-by-side using your chosen text (something neither Font Reserve nor Suitcase can do), provides numerous formats for printing samples, and, unlike Font Reserve, while pressing the down arrow to view fonts on your hard drive, you don't get an annoying beep and a pop-up indicating it can't display a font because it is already installed. To continue, you have to click a "close" button (or something similar), then go back to the font list and continue on until the next beep and pop-up appear. It is far worse than just annoying. The price for Printer's Apprentice is more than reasonable (and less than one-third the price of Suitcase). After the quick and easy installation, you can immediately jump in with both feet or use the help files to get you up and running. I downloaded trials for many other products and found them either feature deficient, too expensive for what they offered, or not very intuitive. You just can't go wrong with Printer's Apprentice. Download and use the free trial (and if you run into any issues, report them to the developer), and you'll see why I'm totally sold on Printer's Apprentice. It is everything most people look for in font management software. P.S. The developer did not pay me to write this. I'm just thrilled to have found Printer's Apprentice.
I used Typografer a long time - looks oldschool but is useful...
http://www.neuber.com/typograf/
I currently use NexusFont for Windows, a very nice font tool!
I currently use Fonty Python, but I'll admit that my decision was based solely on the name. I'll be checking out the Linux options on this list to see how they compare. Thanks!
I use Linotype FontExplorer X for Mac. Even though it has it's problems (like slow starting and crushing every now and then) it is powerful font management tool. And it's free.
you review was dated sept 5 2008 , so i assumed you would have also reviewed the UTS client and server from extensis - which is the upgrade path for suitcase users - covers many features users have been asking for (ldap , keywords, etc) and has eliminated many bugs from the suitcase autoactivation issues