Typography
Thursday, August 15, 2002[11:04:40 AM]
Why would Microsoft stop giving away their fonts? The fonts are a key aspect of the monopoly, in fact.
Linux and other Unix systems couldn't reasonably use True Type fonts, so convincing designers to specify Microsoft's fonts was a significant hindrance to Linux on the desktop. Lately, Linux has developed better support for True Type. Since all subjects of the Microsoft empire receive the fonts when they receive their operating system (when they purchase their computers), there's no need to allow for downloads. Anyone with a Windows computer so old that it didn't come with Georgia should just buy a new computer, not download the font. All the people downloading fonts are putting them on Linux.
Note that Apple still has a special role as the fig leaf hiding the absolute, crushing monopoly.
The more sinister win for Microsoft in providing fonts to every desktop is that it reduces pressure for downloadable font technology. If you could download the designer's choice of typefaces with each webpage, there would be dramatic repercussions. First, the value of the operating system's fonts goes down. Second, it promotes widespread use of typefaces. That is, when every website becomes a potential purchaser of high-quality typefaces, the market for type booms. Microsoft is badly positioned for that a world of quality type -- even their desktop applications can't really handle many typefaces.
(Many people who work with type fear widespread use of type, because they know some people will not pay. I contend that vastly more people *will* pay, and that the type business will boom and flower. See my essay: Type Boom.)
© Copyright 2002 john robert boynton.
Last update: 9/8/02; 11:27:13 AM.