Fonts

I've been watching a number of videos of people experimenting with Linux, my favorite operating system. A lot of those videos have been specifically related to single board computers. We simply call them SBCs.

If you are into technology, then you've no doubt heard of the Raspberry Pi, currently one of the lowest cost and most popular SBCs for hobbyists, professionals, and those just dabbling in technology. Basically, these computers contain everything needed for a complete desktop computer in a tiny package about the size of a pack of playing cards. All that you need to add is a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

In almost all cases, the operating system of choice on an SBC is Linux. There are some running an embedded version of Windows, but that is the exception and not the norm. So naturally, when someone is creating a video to demonstrate the performance and abilities of these little machines, they load the vendor's preferred version of Linux or one that was created for the SBC.

Are you with me so far?

Anyway, all is good. They load Linux on the SBC to test it out. In almost all cases, the preferred version of Linux has a desktop environment so you can use the SBC just like your desktop. You login with a username and password and access graphical applications.

It seems that many times when this is done for a demonstration in a video, a comment is made about the lack of Microsoft fonts on the SBC. More specifically, fonts like Verdana, Times New Roman, Calibri, and Comic Sans. They cite this as a disadvantage and a criticism. 

Now, the better of these content providers know and show how easy it is to add Microsoft fonts to your Linux computer. In fact, it is extremely simple to add fonts to Linux.

But I have to ask, why add the Microsoft fonts to Linux in the first place?

Some will argue that it is needed for document compatibility. I submit that is invalid. Linux has equivalent fonts and most software, like LibreOffice and AbiWord, are pretty good at figuring out which equivalent to use. So you get the same look and feel of the document.

I can see the point that for ultimate compatibility, people want Microsoft fonts. I offer the counter-point that people could use open fonts that are not licensed by Microsoft instead.

Font availability is superb on Linux. Any TTF fonts you can find will work. Furthermore, some of those actually look a little better than the Microsoft version.

What's my point?

Saying "Microsoft fonts aren't available on Linux by default" isn't a criticism. Or at least, not one that should ever be a credible reason to avoid Linux. If you're that hung up on font selections, you probably have a lot of other requirements for your software that would eliminate Linux simply for the availability of your favorite commercial proprietary software that only runs on Windows (and maybe MacOS).

Don't get hung up on fonts. Be free from worrying about them too much.

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Did you know I like to write: The Trillborne Wife, Policy, Some Reason, and Fractured Unity.

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