#Best Bitstream fonts?
5 messages in this thread
Right. I just called. The platform is the difference. Bitstream is
obviously putting their effort into fonts for the MAC with postscript and
not bothering with the IBM world, postscript or not. Those fonts available
for IBM can be installed as bitmapped or postscript, but the choices are
fewer than for the MAC. Now I'm aggravated all over again (as if I can pay
for much more in the way of fonts at the moment, or as if I can afford
other available packages I would like to have; just don't much like being
discriminated against)! With the availability of relatively cheap
postscript cartridges for all the installed LJs, perhaps Bitstream will
spare a little effort soon for the IBM crowd. Wonder what the actual
numbers are of IBM-postscript & bitmapped vs. Mac-postscript combos
installed. Guess I'll write a little letter as soon as I escape my present
logjam:-)
There are *vastly* more IBM PCL printers than any other kind of laser
printer, PostScript (Mac or IBM) or otherwise. HP has incredible market
penetration.
True, but how many of them are being used for serious DTP, and how many are
just pumping our correspondence in 12-point Courier?
BITSTREAM ABANDONS IBM USERS! ORPHANED IBM PLATFORM OWNERS PROTEST!
So, if, say, 25% of those LJ owners (or 15%) snapped up postscript
emulators, would the numbers match or surpass the Mac-PS owners, and is it
likely that IBM-HPLJ people with PS emulators would be hungry for fonts
additional to those ubiquitous 35 (did I use the right word?) so that
Bitstream would HAVE to pay attention to them? I've seen statements many
times about the extent of the HPLJ installed base, but actual figures, no
(I don't think so). Are there really so many more service bureaus buying
whole libraries for their operations in comparison to numbers of individual
or corporate buyers who might buy selected faces and want something
everyone else & his/their brother(s) doesn't have too (as with the famous
35). Well I can come up with a few such questions, but I'm no market
analyst and I'm too busy trying to scrape up a living and coping with my
mother to start a grass roots campaign to get Bitstream to pay attention to
us IBM people. Darn it all, anyway! I will try to get to that letter.
As someone here said somewhere along the line, it would be nice if one
could specify what fonts are included in the Pacific Page (if I decide to
keep it…waiting for a replacement unit because one received did abolutely
nothing…followed simple directions to the letter). I certainly have TR &
Swiss, Sw Lite, Sw Cond; also ZChancery, Palatino; no list handy, but I
think Bookman is only PS face I don't have in some version (that is, I have
some soft font sets without B. outlines–from HP).
At any rate, I bought into Bitstream because of quality, choices at time,
LM resol upgrade possibilities (…hmmm), PS emulators that used Bitstream
fonts–it all looked rosy until about mid-year last. Person I spoke with at
Bitstream said one new package has been released since "blue & grey Express
Yourself" brochure was put out then. I forgot to ask what it is!
[copy FYI]
Ms. Kelsey Selander, V. P. of Marketing
Bitstream Inc.
Athenaeum House
215 First Street
Cambridge, Mass. 02142
Dear Ms. Selander:
I own and operate a small business that "typesets" flyers, concert programs,
brochures, newsletters and sometimes even books on an IBM-compatible
computer, using Xerox Ventura Publisher and a LaserMaster-equipped HP
LaserJet. I have bought and registered about thirty Bitstream Fontware
typeface packages; thus I have spent several thousand dollars more for my
fonts than I paid for my printer. I consider this necessary so that I can
offer my clients the greatest possible typographic variety as well as
quality. Most of the time, I have been quite happy with Bitstream typefaces.
However, in the past year I have seen only one new offering from your
company for PC users, while I am hearing more and more about a
substantially larger library of Bitstream fonts for the Macintosh computer.
At the same time, the LaserMaster people have evidently succeeded in
breaking the encryption scheme for Adobe type 1 fonts, and it will thus be
possible for me to start using typefaces from Adobe.
I would prefer to continue buying from you people if only you would bring
out more for the PC. Can you please tell me what is happening, and how soon
you will be adding these Mac typefaces, or other new offerings, to your
catalogue of fonts for the PC?
Sincerely yours,
David Satz