At a guess, you're using Windows and the author is using Mac? [1] (I'm also using Windows -- it's my gaming PC, don't judge! -- and having an equally difficult time.)
Definitely don't let anyone ever judge you for that. The vast majority of desktop/laptop users are on Windows, including a slightly-less-vast majority of developers.
[1] http://damieng.com/blog/2007/06/13/font-rendering-philosophi...