The font mystery
 

In my opinion Linux is great. There are a zillion reasons why I think so, let me tell only few of them:
Linux is connecting people of good will.
Linux lets everybody make his own way of using a computer.
Linux forces people to use head.
Linux is opening minds.
Linux proves that there are higher values than money...........


But there is one think which makes me miserable. FONTS!

When one installs a Linux distribution for the first time and looks at its desktop - it is a disappointment. I don't believe anybody could like the "marmalade stains" which can be seen instead of fonts. After setting one's own fonts the picture becomes bearable. But!

Not in all programs and not in all parts of the programs. Why must it be so?
The font directories are spread all over the installation and it is nearly impossible to
find them all. I don't know anything about programing, i just use computer. So maybe this questions are stupid, but I would really like to know the answers:

In /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts there are folders including many different fonts. In /etc/X11/fs there is a config file with paths to these fonts. Why is this not enough? Why are there font folders all over the place, containing other or even the same fonts and hundreds of config files which include settings for fonts?

Why is default font so ugly? I think it is Nimbus sans L or something like that. Why not adobe- helvetica, which is clear, sharp and simple? Where can i terminate this Sans fonts once for ever and replace them with something from this century? I'm affraid even Guttenberg would be sad to see Sans fonts, for he could do it better.

Is thera a way to make font selection really easy and what's more- usable?

Mandrake's control centre, or even kde's control centre (if you have kde installed) usually find most of the font stuff.

Mandrake is also rather good at getting windows font's if you have a windows install on the system as well. that makes life a little easier on the eye.

Don't forget to have a go at changing the font settings round, for best performance of you graphics equipment - but only change 1 setting at a time, as it would be vvv easy to screw it up and not be able to read anything.

regards

John