Syncing up 2 USB Hdd on a Mac and Font converting software (PC to Mac)

November 27, 2007 7:48 AM

Syncing up 2 USB Hdd on a Mac and Font converting software (PC to Mac)

Today I decided to update the office to Macs, use them at home for games and web with no problem. The office Macs are used for Design, Print and web. We have no problems with the design software its little things like our fonts.

---Q1---
We bought the most of the library at Adobe Fonts, they are PFB and PFM format. Works on Windows, doesnt on a MAC.

We have VMware fusion installed, for windows apps, etc. Im thinking of purchasing Crossfont for windows, and converting. However costs $49 does anything know any free converters for PC fonts to Mac friendly as I will only use the app once to convert the whole library?
---EO Q1---

---Q2---
Backing up, on Windows we used an app that sycronised both USB harddrives (one on Network for everyone, second on my PC). This worked a charm, is there anything similar on a MAC.

Our setup.
We are using Airport Extreme with a USB HDD on it. The office can read / write files, no problem.

Im using 'Time Machine' only seems to back my Mackintosh HD and not the network usb drive.

I dont mind paying for this, but I have thoughts that there is software I need already on my machine without me knowing.

This is my fav so far:
http://propagandaprod.com/dejavu.html
from this list.
http://www.pure-mac.com/backup.html
---EO Q2---

posted by spinko to computers & internet (4 answers total)

I've gotta recommend not converting fonts between different formats. You're never gonna be able to match your converted font with anyone else's legit version and it will surely result in all-out hell if you need to exchange files with printers, etc.

I'd call up Adobe and see if you can trade 'em in for OpenType, or at least PostScript. I hear they're pretty cool about that for software.

Q2: I hear good things about both Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper. Check 'em out and see if they do what you need.
posted by Plug Dub In at 8:46 AM on November 27, 2007

Spinko, I want to be nice about this but it sounds like you're in over your head. You should have asked these questions before the move.

In the design world, fonts are not "little things." In my tech support work for ad agencies and publishing houses, fonts accounted for *easily* a quarter of all calls with designer computers. We would spend lots of hours and money planning, installing, and troubleshooting font installations, font management software, and font output.

I, too, do not recommend trying to convert the fonts. It's almost always a mistake and a disaster, especially for characters beyond ASCII, but also for simple things like kerning. If you must try, then consider FontForge which costs nothing but requires a high level of technical expertise to install and use and won't convert them all in one go. I have used Crossfont, but it was for a single font to be used just once on a single advertisement, not to create a font for day-to-day use.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:10 AM on November 27, 2007

Q1: Call Adobe support. I'm almost certain that if you an prove you own the fonts, they'll ship you a disc with OpenType fonts. Don't convert: It will be a much bigger headache than you want to handle. In fact, you might be better off paying for new fonts than converting — that's how much a pain in the arse it may turn out to be.
posted by General Malaise at 12:50 PM on November 27, 2007

DO NOT CONVERT THE FONTS or you will be sorry forever.

Plus no service bureau in the world will want to deal with converted fonts. Period.

Why did you buy PC fonts if your design work is done on Macs?

But yeah, as General Malaise said, what you want are OTF, they work just as well on both platforms and especially well with the Adobe products.
posted by luriete at 11:59 AM on November 28, 2007