Even though many of us spend a lot of time with server operating systems, known for being utilitarian and function-oriented, we still occasionally need to produce documents that look good. Some of us also do Web design, where esthetics plays a major role. Which is why it has seemed a remarkable omission of Windows that the operating system does not provide a way to print out a listing of installed fonts, complete with sample text. Several application providers have overcome this limitation in their GUI design, some more successfully than others, but one could argue that such a simple capability should really reside in the OS, which manages font installation. What good is having a wealth of great-looking fonts if you can’t easily use them?
One of the great things about this industry is how individuals step up to the plate and fill needs ignored by the big dogs. Dutch developer Edwin Martin, bless him, has done just that with his FontList program – and he doesn’t even want a dime for his efforts. It’s freeware. I discovered FontList recently and I find it extremely useful when I’m searching for that perfect typeface among the 600 or so that are installed on my main PC.
FontList runs in a browser window and takes about a nanosecond to install and use. It works on everything from Win95 to Vista. Get it at www.bitstorm.org/fontlist and donate ten bucks to your favorite charity for good karma. And maybe send Mr. Martin a quick e-mail, too, thanking him for his talent and generosity.
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