Apple users will not be able to enjoy the new fonts introduced into Windows Vista. While Microsoft and Apple have extended their font licensing agreement for the main fonts associated with the Windows platform, Vista seems to be off limit. The renewal of the licensing agreement simply does not have the new Windows Vista system font, Segoe UI, on the menu, focusing instead on the Times New Roman, Arial and Verdana. Neither Microsoft nor Apple indicated a future agreement where the Vista Segoe UI Font will be made available to the Cupertino-based company's users. Still, as the install base of Vista grows in the place of XP, such a move could come at a future time.

"At TypeCon2007 today, Microsoft Corp. and Apple announced they have renewed their font licensing agreement, giving Apple users ongoing use of the latest versions of Microsoft Windows core fonts. Under the agreement, Apple and Microsoft are extending the seamless Web and software experience Apple users have enjoyed for years when using and viewing popular Microsoft fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial and Verdana. Apple customers, developers and Web designers can safely specify fonts knowing that their documents, presentations and Web pages will appear as they are meant to be seen on screen and in print," read the joint press release from the Redmond and the Cupertino companies.

In Vista, Microsoft changed the system font to Segoe UI, a font designed for graphical user interface text strings, but based on the traditional Segoe associated mainly with the printing process. But still, one font missing from both Apple products and Windows Vista is Cariadings. The new Vista font family: Constantia, Corbel, Calibri, Cambria, Candara and Consolas are all under the Microsoft ClearType Font Collection umbrella. While not making it available to Apple users, these fonts that ship by default with Microsoft's operating system, also come without Cariadings, an ornamental design for a type font, much in the same manner as Wingdings.