2002-08-13 17:03:43+00 by Dan Lyke 6 comments
Genehack pointed out: "Microsoft's TrueType core fonts for the Web are no longer available for download from www.microsoft.com". This kinda sucks 'cause the Debian install I did on my laptop went out and installed those, and I figured this way we could all still have a basic set of fallback fonts if our first choices didn't spec out. Oh well.
[ related topics: Free Software John S Jacobs-Anderson Microsoft Typography Graphic Design ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment made: 2002-08-13 20:00:53+00 by: TheSHAD0W
Well, if you've got a list of the fonts, and you've already installed them (I have), just pull copies out of your fonts folder. Get me a list, and I'll do it myself.
#Comment made: 2002-08-13 22:30:23+00 by: John Anderson
The point is that fresh copies are no longer available. That means that, in the worst possible case (i.e., drive crash with total data loss) those of us in the MS-free camp are SOL, MS font-wise. And since they were widely available, whole great big bunches of the web assume that everybody has them.
(You Lynx bigots can crawl back in 'ter yer caves now, Dan! 8^>)
#Comment made: 2002-08-14 00:12:45+00 by: Dan Lyke
Yeah, it's not like I'll miss Comic Sans or the cheap rip-off of Helvetica, Arial, it's that those fonts gave us a lowest common denominator which were on the way to being installed by default on every computer.
Of course I am typing this in Lynx...
#Comment made: 2002-08-15 03:03:45+00 by: TheSHAD0W
Well, in that case, I'd suggest you "embrace and extend". Make free-market versions of the same fonts (and I believe that might be as simple as changing their names), and distribute them freely yourselves.
#Comment made: 2002-08-15 13:23:42+00 by: ebradway
Microsoft pulled another 'microsoft'. Releasing their fonts and getting people to standardize on them, then rescinding the fonts for other OSes. Now, you have to use a Microsoft OS and Microsoft browser to view much of the web. Doesn't surprise me on bit...
Does anyone have a decent set of free fonts that work on all platforms? If so, I'll start specifying them in my <FONT> tags.
#Comment made: 2002-08-15 22:20:32+00 by: Dori [edit history]
Still want those MS fonts? Grab 'em here or here, while they last.