How do I change Windows fonts to look like fonts on a Mac?

[StarvinMarvin]

My friend just started using a Windows XP system after years of using a Mac.
She was disappointed right away with the available fonts, especially Lucida.
She says the Windows Lucida font is not nearly as "nice" as the Lucida font
she used on her Mac.

How can I fix this for her? Is there a whole new font pack or something that
mimics the look and style of Mac fonts?

I haven't been over to her house yet. It would be nice if I could arrive
with a solution!

Regards, Andrew

 

[Malke]

My friend just started using a Windows XP system after years of using a Mac.
She was disappointed right away with the available fonts, especially Lucida.
She says the Windows Lucida font is not nearly as "nice" as the Lucida font
she used on her Mac.

How can I fix this for her? Is there a whole new font pack or something that
mimics the look and style of Mac fonts?

I haven't been over to her house yet. It would be nice if I could arrive
with a solution!

Actually, Windows has always done rather nicely with fonts. I don't see
an appreciable difference between my XP, Vista, and MacBook fonts.

Make sure your friend is viewing the fonts appropriately for her
monitor. In most cases, enabling/customizing Clear Type for the monitor
will make a huge difference.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306527

As far as different fonts being available, there are free fonts and
commercial fonts available for Windows just as there are for the Mac.
Always get your fonts from a reputable site. Here is a starting place:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/default.mspx - Microsoft Typography


Malke

 

[Melvin Cotterill]

I surmise your friend has set a trap( a man trap that is)for you, and
furthermore it sounds as if you anxious to step into it. Be wary.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[StarvinMarvin]

Arrived at friend's house. This person is fussy about color profiles so I
downloaded and installed specific driver from monitor maker's website. It
made the usual barely perceptible difference. Also confirmed screen res. was
correctly set to native 1280x1024.

Ran the free Nokia Monitor Test and made slight adjustment to horizontal
position. Other settings were fine.

Opened the Fonts folder in Control Panel and double-clicked on her preferred
Lucida Handwriting font (for her blog, website, etc.). Sure enough, it looked
"scratchy", especially at 10 pt. size. Larger sizes were definitely more
viable but not very attractive. Keeping that font display onscreen, I opened
Display Properties / Appearance / Effects and activated ClearType while she
watched and, voila!, problem solved.

While I suspect that her previous Mac monitor may be superior to this
result, she seemed so pleased that I avoided any further mention of the Mac.
But, hey, for a moderately priced Acer brand 17-inch monitor it looks pretty
decent.

Rewarded with a smile, a handmade Christmas ornament and a bottle of Il
Bastardo wine I drove home.

 

[windmap]

My friend just started using a Windows XP system after years of using a Mac.
She was disappointed right away with the available fonts, especially Lucida.
She says the Windows Lucida font is not nearly as "nice" as the Lucida font
she used on her Mac.

How can I fix this for her? Is there a whole new font pack or something that
mimics the look and style of Mac fonts?

I haven't been over to her house yet. It would be nice if I could arrive
with a solution!

Regards, Andrew

Download cleartype tunning applet see whether this makes any difference

 

[Malke]

Arrived at friend's house. This person is fussy about color profiles so I
downloaded and installed specific driver from monitor maker's website. It
made the usual barely perceptible difference. Also confirmed screen res. was
correctly set to native 1280x1024.

Ran the free Nokia Monitor Test and made slight adjustment to horizontal
position. Other settings were fine.

Opened the Fonts folder in Control Panel and double-clicked on her preferred
Lucida Handwriting font (for her blog, website, etc.). Sure enough, it looked
"scratchy", especially at 10 pt. size. Larger sizes were definitely more
viable but not very attractive. Keeping that font display onscreen, I opened
Display Properties / Appearance / Effects and activated ClearType while she
watched and, voila!, problem solved.

While I suspect that her previous Mac monitor may be superior to this
result, she seemed so pleased that I avoided any further mention of the Mac.
But, hey, for a moderately priced Acer brand 17-inch monitor it looks pretty
decent.

Rewarded with a smile, a handmade Christmas ornament and a bottle of Il
Bastardo wine I drove home.

Glad the Clear Type suggestion worked for you. It's nice to hear you and
your friend had such a lovely day! Thanks for taking the time to post back.


Malke

 

[Plato]

My friend just started using a Windows XP system after years of using a Mac.
She was disappointed right away with the available fonts, especially Lucida.
She says the Windows Lucida font is not nearly as "nice" as the Lucida font
she used on her Mac.

How can I fix this for her? Is there a whole new font pack or something that
mimics the look and style of Mac fonts?

Search the Internet. Many fonts are free.