Browser fonts and general appearance
 

i've been trying linux for more than 4 years but I do not use it for the everyday.
I like very much the system but there is one particular issue that concerns me and that makes me very unhappy and unable to use linux regularly.

Linux fonts are not good at all, but with special tricks it is possible to use true type fonts on linux. The general appearence can be improved using these fonts but there is one major problem to me about internet browsing. Although you can improve the fonts I can not see webpages like they are, I mean, like the web designer want the user to see. I don't want to use tahoma or verdana just because they may be better than other linux fonts. I want to use verdana for text links, times new roman, for the body, trebuchet MS for headings, IF the webdesigner programmed the webpage in that way. This particular important for me since I spent 90% of my time using the interenet and I need to see websites like they really are.

Am I missing something? Is it possible to see webpages on linux like they really are, like they are programmed on the css files?

What browser are you using?

firefox 1.0pr

Firefox can use fonts like Verdana, Trebuchet or whatever, as long as you have them installed. These are Microsoft fonts, so most Linux system don't include them by default. But they can be installed. Exactly how, will depend on what distro you're using. Some will provide packaged version that will be called something like msfonts or similar, for others you might have to find out how to install them manually. I don't really know the details because it never bothered me. I would suggest doing a bit of searching through your package manager and forums - look for installing microsoft fonts.
Anyhow, I think a good web designer should design their site so it looks OK in default fonts a browser uses, not try to force specific font on their audience. IMO.

Thats true, if you have a copy of Windows you can easily copy your truetype fonts and install them in Linux.

See if this helps; http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=218445
Install the ttf-bittstream-vera serif,sans serif and mono and select them in the font configuration,also make sure the min font is at least 9.

Installing true type fonts does not completely solve my problem. I want the browser to pick the correct fonts, based on css styles defined on the web page, and not using all the time tahoma or verdana.

Then your problem is really nothing to do with linux but your web browser. If using firefox, make sure that the option to only use your selected font is unchecked.

I have installed ubuntu linux, and fonts are perfect. :)