14 DAY TRIAL // Optimizing computer performance is a complex job that tackles many issues related to both hardware and software environments. Defragmenting your hard drive or cleaning the registry are some of the most important steps you have to take in order to improve your system’s performance and get the most out of your PC. A less known fact for many users is that increasing the number of installed fonts will negatively impact on how the machine runs. The boot-up time becomes increasingly longer and the overall speed decreases when these otherwise little things tend to turn numerous.
Cleaning the font registry is not an easy task and can become even dangerous if you don't know exactly what you're doing. Fortunately, there is something that can help you do just that and even more when it comes to working with the installed typefaces. It is a font manager called FontFrenzy that comes fitted with all the features you'll need and the best thing about it is its being free of charge. This application may not be the best looking out there, but practicality and functionality are key at the expense of a snazzy eye-candy interface. It does have some stylish buttons for accessing its main options but that's pretty much it in this respect.
The goodies are to be found under the hood of this little utility that will enable you to throw the fonts around, load and store them, get rid of the ones you don't need, back them up if necessary and so on. The first feature that can be deployed as soon as the program is installed is ''Defrenzy''. This will magically clean your typeface collection and strip it to the bone. What this means is that once you activate it, you'll be left with nothing more than the default fonts Windows comes with out of the box. You don't have to worry about losing all the other fonts because the application will ask you first to select a directory where you will keep them.
In case you want to safely keep all the currently installed fonts, FontFrenzy is up to the job and provides you with the right tool: ''FrenzySnap''. This function will allow you to backup all your typefaces with a simple click, all you have to do is give the snapshot a name so you can identify it faster when you wish to restore it. A great thing is that you can make as many snapshots as you want to keep several font configurations that fit your needs and can be readily reloaded whenever you feel like it. This latter operation can be accomplished with the help of the ''Refrenzy'' feature. Using it is quite easy: you simply pick a configuration from the list and restore it. By right-clicking the snapshot's name, you'll be able to view or print the fonts included in that backup and there is also a delete command to remove the selected configuration.
The next module, ''FrenzyMan'', is the one that gives you the power to fully take control over all the fonts on your computer. It's not only about the installed ones but also those you may have stacked in other locations, waiting to be used. From this section of the program, you have the possibility to easily add new fonts, install, delete, unload and store the selected items. The last mentioned option is meant to simply uninstall the unused fonts and put them away in the storage folder so you'll be able to use them again whenever you need them. Also available in this section of the program are the options to select or deselect all the typefaces and another one that will let you view the fonts from any directory you choose.
Except for the function just mentioned above, in the case of all the other tools, you can easily take a closer look at the all characters that are included in a font by double-clicking the one you want to inspect. The dimensions of the preview window can be customized and all the symbols will adjust their size accordingly. Another personalization you can apply is the test phrase used when displaying the fonts. This is placed right at the bottom of the main window and you'll be able to write the new text and also choose the font size. There is a ''Tools'' menu available and it stores a feature for repairing the Windows fonts folder, as well as the ''Options'' panel that hosts the folders you may set to have the typefaces, snapshots and log files stored in. Also, you are presented with a choice regarding the printing settings, more precisely you can opt for an output sheet with the alphabet and numbers or with the sample text you wrote.
The Bad
The application interface could be seen as the main drawback. It is good in terms of functionality but less appealing, with no effects, fading menus or other such eye-candy elements. Another aspect that could be mentioned here is the lack of offline documentation. The FontFrenzy Help is available only online and if, for some reason, the user doesn't have an Internet connection, all the needed explanations become unavailable. Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
The Good
The Truth
This article is also available in Spanish: El Señor de las Fuentes
