[KLUG Members] Better fonts in Linux web browsers?

[Bruce Smith]

> >>>>>>>http://theregus.com/content/4/26770.html
> >>>>>>>Does it make things better or worse?
> >>>>>>>I'm thinking about grabbing the source RPM for "freetype" (if Redhat
> >>>>>>>supplies it on their FTP site :)  
> >>>>Actually, I can't find it.  updates.redhat.com/7.2/en/os/SRPMS has no
> >>>>freetype file. 
> >>>That's because it hasn't been _updated_ since Redhat 8.0 came out!
> >>Huh?
> >>>Try ftp.redhat.com or buy source code CD's from me!  DUH!   :-)
> >>>(or see Bob, if he's figured out Redhat's FTP site yet ;)
> >>Obviously niether have I (figured out Redhat's FTP site).  Don't updates 
> >>get posted on updates.redhat.com when they are released?
> >Right, errata, updates, bug fixes, whatever they are called, get posted
> >there.  "freetype", which is part of the standard distribution hasn't
> >had an update (I haven't replaced it on BSware) since Redhat 8.0 was
> >released.  ONLY updated RPMs & SRPMs get put on updates.redhat.com.
> >The standard distribution RPMs & SRPMs are on ftp.redhat.com.
> 
> Mm.  I'm looking for the RedHat **7.2** src rpm, notice the mentioned URL.

Okay, I don't know if freetype was an update for 7.2, or came with the
standard distribution, or both (off hand).

> >>I'm on my RH8 box, where I thought fonts always looks good anyway.  I 
> >>jacked up the dpi to 100 (edited gdm.conf), restarted gdm, xdpyinfo says 
> >>dpi is 100x100 - and I don't notice a difference.
> >It doesn't effect all sites.  Look at pricewatch.com before and after.
> 
> Yikes! Ouch!
> . . . 
> Ahhhhhhh.....

I assume that means you can see the difference now.   :-)

I picked 10 random web sites, took a screen shot of each before the 
change (using the print-screen button in RH 8 - cool feature) and
that change improved the appearance in about half of them.

A FYI, the howto is incomplete/incorrect for how to change that feature
with a GDM (graphical) login in Redhat 8.0.  It says to change your
...../xdm/Xservers file.  In RH8, you need to edit the file:
/etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf  and modify the "command=" line as follows:

  command=/usr/X11R6/bin/X -dpi 120

(modify the dpi numeric value to your own preference)

--------------------------------------------
Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
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