17 votes

Beyond Calibri: Finding Microsoft’s next default font

13 comments

  1. [3]
    dedime
    Link
    I actually quite like Grandview. Spacing between letters (kerning?) is bang on, unlike Tenorite and Seaford. The 'i' with a square for the dit is pleasing. Skeena's italic font is ugly, almost...

    I actually quite like Grandview. Spacing between letters (kerning?) is bang on, unlike Tenorite and Seaford. The 'i' with a square for the dit is pleasing. Skeena's italic font is ugly, almost like it's a computer font trying to be calligraphy. The only part I see as questionable is the ''' apostrophe, but to be honest I like it more than all of the alternatives. And there's something about it that's distinctly "Microsoft", even if I can't put my finger on it. Letter width is tight, which is pleasing to my eye.

    Bierstadt is a close second, with Tenorite being my third favorite. Seaford and Skeena are right out.

    10 votes
    1. Gotter
      Link Parent
      Yeah, I'm really liking Grandview, too. I'm a mild font enthusiast and Grandview got me nodding. Seaford and Skeena look very odd in the link posted by Greg in another top comment, I'm surprised...

      Yeah, I'm really liking Grandview, too. I'm a mild font enthusiast and Grandview got me nodding. Seaford and Skeena look very odd in the link posted by Greg in another top comment, I'm surprised they're in the selection.

      4 votes
    2. Tardigrade
      Link Parent
      I'm also on the grandview side. My only issue is the 's'. Do you find that? It seems almost folded in on itself

      I'm also on the grandview side. My only issue is the 's'. Do you find that? It seems almost folded in on itself

      1 vote
  2. [5]
    hamstergeddon
    Link
    Come on, MS! Be bold and usher in a new era of serif fonts!

    Come on, MS! Be bold and usher in a new era of serif fonts!

    9 votes
    1. [3]
      wycy
      Link Parent
      Agree wholeheartedly. I still switch many documents to Times New Roman because Calibri just looks too... casual? I'd love if the new default had some subtle serif.

      Agree wholeheartedly. I still switch many documents to Times New Roman because Calibri just looks too... casual? I'd love if the new default had some subtle serif.

      5 votes
      1. [2]
        screenbeard
        Link Parent
        The last era of fonts that included Calibri had an updated serif font called Cambria. Was that any good to a serif enthusiast?

        The last era of fonts that included Calibri had an updated serif font called Cambria. Was that any good to a serif enthusiast?

        2 votes
        1. wycy
          Link Parent
          Cambria strikes me as just okay. I like the idea of it as a serif font, but it doesn't look as sharp to me as Times New Roman. I typically only use Cambria when I'm using Cambria Math.

          Cambria strikes me as just okay. I like the idea of it as a serif font, but it doesn't look as sharp to me as Times New Roman. I typically only use Cambria when I'm using Cambria Math.

          3 votes
    2. Eabryt
      Link Parent
      Comic Sans or we riot.

      Comic Sans or we riot.

      7 votes
  3. [3]
    Greg
    Link
    Side-by-side sample, courtesy of The Verge.
    8 votes
    1. [2]
      Deimos
      Link Parent
      Thanks, it's bizarre that they didn't bother to include some images of the fonts actually being used for text in the official article.

      Thanks, it's bizarre that they didn't bother to include some images of the fonts actually being used for text in the official article.

      15 votes
      1. cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        They did provide examples in a tweet, which was linked to at the very end of the article as "show us which you love best".... but it's not exactly clear that's what it was going to lead to, and so...

        They did provide examples in a tweet, which was linked to at the very end of the article as "show us which you love best".... but it's not exactly clear that's what it was going to lead to, and so is pretty easy to miss.

        5 votes
  4. krg
    Link
    Trying all with a block of "regular"-sized text in Microsoft Word, I'd say it's between Bierstadt and Skeena in terms of readability. I'd lean towards Bierstadt as it hearkens back to Arial and is...

    Trying all with a block of "regular"-sized text in Microsoft Word, I'd say it's between Bierstadt and Skeena in terms of readability. I'd lean towards Bierstadt as it hearkens back to Arial and is the least offensive option.

    3 votes
  5. notauser
    Link
    I'd say that Grandview and Bierstadt are my favorite fonts here. However, what about Trebuchet MS? I'd say it's pretty similar to Calibri, although I'm not exactly a typographer myself.

    I'd say that Grandview and Bierstadt are my favorite fonts here. However, what about Trebuchet MS? I'd say it's pretty similar to Calibri, although I'm not exactly a typographer myself.

    2 votes