VMs: RE: Embeddable VMS fonts testing

["GC" <glenclaston@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Nick Pelling wrote:
>
> > Much as you'd expect, it works fine with Internet
> Explorer 6.0.2600.0000,
> > but not with any version of Netscape (I tried 4.08,
> 4.76, and 6).
>
> It doesn't work with Opera 6.0 and Netscape 4.74 (on Win98).
>
> On Internet Explorer 6.0.2600.0000 I see some VMS chars but also
> many rectangles - which I guess is what it should be at
> this stage?
>
> BTW: Does this technology force the MIE to download the font
> even when it already is installed locally? If it doesn't, then
> I think the solution is good, as majority of
> occassional visitors
> would have MIE and other may be advised to download the
> font file.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Rafal

No, it doesn't force downloading of the font object if the font is
installed, but problems with Netscape viewing are as expected.
Netscape supports less than 70% of the current CSS standard for
some reason.  This means that some things will work, others won't,
and many things will yield unexpected results, such as mixed
character rendition/substitution because of varying font sizes.

>From what I gather, Microsoft and Adobe (the two biggest font
developers) have teamed up to create the Opentext standard,
evident in Windows XP, and work off the philosophy that font
rasterization is an operating system function, rather than a
browser function.  Netscape on the other hand, builds this into
their browser, making it somewhat incompatible with the Opentext
philosophy.  When both Microsoft and Adobe are involved, Netscape
will once again come out the loser.  I've just come from visiting
Netscape's page and testing their browser, and it's quite evident
that Netscape is investing their efforts on incorporating
advertising space into their browser, not incorporating new
technologies.  More power to them.

There are alternatives that can be used that still use the font
and allow for imbedding.  Somehow we have to get ourselves beyond
ASCII and into the 1980's.

GC