Turn your PC into a Mac
posted June 9th 2004 2:34PM
We've got a bonus how-to for you this week. After becoming obsessed with a story on Wired News from last month
about people getting their Windows PCs to have the same look and feel of Mac OS X, we convinced Aqua-Soft.org staff
member Kurt Williams to give us the lowdown on how we could do it ourselves:
So, you wanna make your ugly Windows XP interface look like Mac OS X, huh? It's really not all that difficult to do,
and with a little luck, you'll be able to convince all but the most die-hard Mac users that you run an Apple computer.
First, here's a list of the programs you'll need:
- StyleXP or WindowBlinds (skins the Graphical User Interface of your operating system)
- ObjectBar (the white Finder bar on the top of Macs; has File, Edit, View, etc. on it.)
- ObjectDock, YzDock (discontinued), or MobyDock (The dock on the bottom of a Mac that contains icons and shortcuts to programs)
- Trillian (chat program that can be skinned to resemble iChat)
- YzToolbar (skins the toolbar icons in your Windows windows)
- YzShadow (puts a lovely drop shadow under your windows á la Mac OS X)
- Rainlendar (popular skinable desktop calendar)
- Rainmeter (skinnable desktop system statistics)
- Samurize (like Konfabulator for the Mac; can display just about anything, such as clocks, uptime, and the weather)
- iTunes for Windows (self-explanatory)
- Icons (The pretty little pictures on your desktop that point you somewhere. There are millions out there, but try the link provided for over a 1,000 lifted from Mac OS X 10.3 aka Panther)
That's pretty much what you'll want for starters. You don't need all of these, and in fact, you really only need a few
to get a reasonably good looking OS X facsimile, but if you're gonna do this you might as well do it right. Now on to
the guide.
This guide assumes that you have either downloaded/purchased the programs listed and 0that you know your way around a
computer, at least to a reasonable extent.
1) I use StyleXP for my visual style, so that's what I'll detail here. WindowBlinds isn't that different, but if you
prefer it, be my guest. The first thing you'll need to do is download a skin. I recommend Kol's website,
StudioTwentyEight for some excellent skins, but feel free to look
around for any others that might interest you. Download your ZIP, and extract it to C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes. Open
up StyleXP and load up that baby. Your windows should now look like the skin you downloaded. If you chose Panther (an
excellent choice) then they should look somewhat like this:
2) Time to find a good ObjectBar skin. I'd suggest crni's website for some excellent themes. Download the one you like
best and extract it to your ObjectBar folder. Open the new folder in there (named something like the theme you
downloaded) and double-click the .OBTHEME icon. The top of your screen should now look something like this, depending
on your theme (Milk for me):
3) Next up is the dock. Open up whichever version you settled on downloading. This is pretty easy to set up.
Basically all you need to do is drag shortcuts or executables to the dock and ta da, you have a shortcut. To change
it's icon, right-click and select "change icon" or some variation. To get new icons to select, make sure you put them
in the icons subfolder (for YzDock) or the main dock folder (for ObjectDock). Easy as pie. When you have the icons and
programs you like, it should look something like this:
4) For those that don't know, Trillian is a
nifty chat program that sticks AIM, MSN, ICQ, and IRC into one program. If you don't use it, you should if for no other
reason that it can look a lot like iChat. You may or may not need the Pro version to get the skin to work. I've heard
mixed reports, but if it doesn't work right, I'd say you need the Pro version. An excellent choice for skins are
Danimator's iChat skins. Extract it to your Trillian skin
directory, open up Trillian's preferences, go to skins, and select the new skin you want to use. You can follow the
readme for some more precise directions to get it looking perfect. When you're done, it should look like this:
5) YzToolbar and YzShadow are pretty self-explanatory. Just install 'em and run 'em. You can find good YzToolbar skins
on the net: I'd recommend Aqua-Soft or AquaXP. Depending on skin (Milk, for me) and settings, it should look something
like this:
6) Rainlendar and Rainmeter are also pretty easy to install and set-up. Just run the installer, and find a good skin.
Again, there's many to choose from. I'd suggest searching the forums at the aforementioned Aqua-Soft and AquaXP. Here's
the Rainlender skin I use.
7) Samurize is a bit complicated, so if you're going to try
and use it, be forewarned that it can be a very big hassle, if it works at all. I'm not even going to try and explain
it in this brief overview, but if you are serious about it, check out the Samurize forums at
Aqua-Soft and AquaXP. Here's an example of
what it can do:
8) If you listen to music on your computer, no Aqua-fication can be complete without the authentic iTunes for Windows.
Apple provides plenty of documentation on how to install and use it, so I'll leave that part to them. If you want to
make it look more like iTunes for Macintosh, check out
localhost's multi-plugin.
And the final result:
So that's pretty much all there is to it. Good luck!
Kurt Williams
Macs are so sweet. Have you ever tried to operate a PC while wearing an oven mitt? I'd like to see you try. I especially like how MACS have a "shaved" CDROM open/close button, making the box more aerodynamic. I was thinking about unbolting that plastic handle on the top front and installing an aluminum spoiler to make it look even faster and more Xtreme.
I think a lot of people hate on MACS because they are perceived as buggy. Something like 80% of MAC software, including the OS, is developed on PCs, so no wonder they don't work sometimes. Someone once told me that when OSX was developed it had to be built on a PC because MAC processors would crash while trying to compile the code. That doesn't really bother me because it still looks way sweeter than a PC. Another bonus is that virus developers tend to leave Apple alone since they are such a minority and have enough problem on their own. They probably can't figure out how to hack Apple's bomber software.
I have a mentally retarded brother that loves to use my MAC. I have seen him do things with that MAC that would never be possible for him on a PC, because of his condition. He seems to take right to it. He even figured out how to use iTunes without any help.
I program home pages for a living and my work makes me use a stupid PC. I tried to get a MAC but they said I couldn't plug it in to the network without a bunch of problems. They think I program on my PC, but I really take the work home and do it on my MAC because it is way cooler and faster. I would like to hook a water cooled system up to the processor so it will be even faster. And more Xtreme.
GOooooooooooo MACS!!
Macs are so sweet. Have you ever tried to operate a PC while wearing an oven mitt? I'd like to see you try. I especially like how MACS have a "shaved" CDROM open/close button, making the box more aerodynamic. I was thinking about unbolting that plastic handle on the top front and installing an aluminum spoiler to make it look even faster and more Xtreme.
I think a lot of people hate on MACS because they are perceived as buggy. Something like 80% of MAC software, including the OS, is developed on PCs, so no wonder they don't work sometimes. Someone once told me that when OSX was developed it had to be built on a PC because MAC processors would crash while trying to compile the code. That doesn't really bother me because it still looks way sweeter than a PC. Another bonus is that virus developers tend to leave Apple alone since they are such a minority and have enough problem on their own. They probably can't figure out how to hack Apple's bomber software.
I have a mentally retarded brother that loves to use my MAC. I have seen him do things with that MAC that would never be possible for him on a PC, because of his condition. He seems to take right to it. He even figured out how to use iTunes without any help.
I program home pages for a living and my work makes me use a stupid PC. I tried to get a MAC but they said I couldn't plug it in to the network without a bunch of problems. They think I program on my PC, but I really take the work home and do it on my MAC because it is way cooler and faster. I would like to hook a water cooled system up to the processor so it will be even faster. And more Xtreme.
GOooooooooooo MACS!!
Macs are so sweet. Have you ever tried to operate a PC while wearing an oven mitt? I'd like to see you try. I especially like how MACS have a "shaved" CDROM open/close button, making the box more aerodynamic. I was thinking about unbolting that plastic handle on the top front and installing an aluminum spoiler to make it look even faster and more Xtreme.
I think a lot of people hate on MACS because they are perceived as buggy. Something like 80% of MAC software, including the OS, is developed on PCs, so no wonder they don't work sometimes. Someone once told me that when OSX was developed it had to be built on a PC because MAC processors would crash while trying to compile the code. That doesn't really bother me because it still looks way sweeter than a PC. Another bonus is that virus developers tend to leave Apple alone since they are such a minority and have enough problem on their own. They probably can't figure out how to hack Apple's bomber software.
I have a mentally retarded brother that loves to use my MAC. I have seen him do things with that MAC that would never be possible for him on a PC, because of his condition. He seems to take right to it. He even figured out how to use iTunes without any help.
I program home pages for a living and my work makes me use a stupid PC. I tried to get a MAC but they said I couldn't plug it in to the network without a bunch of problems. They think I program on my PC, but I really take the work home and do it on my MAC because it is way cooler and faster. I would like to hook a water cooled system up to the processor so it will be even faster. And more Xtreme.
GOooooooooooo MACS!!
Macs are so sweet. Have you ever tried to operate a PC while wearing an oven mitt? I'd like to see you try. I especially like how MACS have a "shaved" CDROM open/close button, making the box more aerodynamic. I was thinking about unbolting that plastic handle on the top front and installing an aluminum spoiler to make it look even faster and more Xtreme.
I think a lot of people hate on MACS because they are perceived as buggy. Something like 80% of MAC software, including the OS, is developed on PCs, so no wonder they don't work sometimes. Someone once told me that when OSX was developed it had to be built on a PC because MAC processors would crash while trying to compile the code. That doesn't really bother me because it still looks way sweeter than a PC. Another bonus is that virus developers tend to leave Apple alone since they are such a minority and have enough problem on their own. They probably can't figure out how to hack Apple's bomber software.
I have a mentally retarded brother that loves to use my MAC. I have seen him do things with that MAC that would never be possible for him on a PC, because of his condition. He seems to take right to it. He even figured out how to use iTunes without any help.
I program home pages for a living and my work makes me use a stupid PC. I tried to get a MAC but they said I couldn't plug it in to the network without a bunch of problems. They think I program on my PC, but I really take the work home and do it on my MAC because it is way cooler and faster. I would like to hook a water cooled system up to the processor so it will be even faster. And more Xtreme.
GOooooooooooo MACS!!
If you really want to change your PC to MAC all you have to do is download this! AND PLEASE MAKE A DONATION http://osx.portraitofakite.com/
hay how do i change the icon for the recycle bin
I read the comment about xp, i am doing this in windows 2k with sp4. so far i have the silver bar at the top of the screen and my object dock, which could have a few more programs in it atm. skins are a trounble, making windows that are open look like mac ones, i tunes is easy, duh. i will upload a screen shot if anybody wants one jus post a message.
Intereting thread.
So you know where I'm coming from I'm a mac user, and have been since 1989. But this isn't a rant, it's just a response to some of the points raised here.
1. Price. Mac's CAN be expensive, but if you get a mini mac with 20 inch flat screen you will pay about £900.
2. There is a huge bundle of software with EVERY mac:
iTunes
iPhoto (photo album/editor)
iCal (calendar)
mail (e mail)
iMovie (video editor)
iDVD (DVD encoder for your videos, also make title pages etc)
Address book
Garage Band (music studio software)
Safari (Web browser)
iChat (messenger client that also does sound and video messaging if you have iSight web cam. Ok, that one's £100 but the resolution is far superior to most web cams.
All of these are made by Apple and work seamlessly. Mail, Address Book, Safari, iCal use the same database, so you can enter an event in your calendar, list people to invite, send e-mails to them all and check their URL all from within iCal, and so on
3. If you are a creative professional and you need a better version of any of the creative softwares, then you can upgrade to Logic, Final Cut etc.
4. for about £50 you can get iWork which is a versatile but simple word processor and Keynote presentation software. OK, not as powerful as Word and Powerpoint, but for most people it will do all they need, and for £50, and made by Apple they work seamlessly with iPhoto for including images from your photo library and iTunes for adding music to your presentations (oh and you can use your iTunes library to add music to your iPhoto slide shows too.
And it does all work seamlessly out of the box.
5. New Digital Camera? USB or Firewire, plug it in and it is immediately recognised by iPhoto. New digi cam, plug it in and iMovie automatically launches.
6. Another criticism of Mac is the amount of software available. Do you need it all. This thread is about an option to obtain 9 (!) softwares to do what Mac does out of the box. NINE!! How many of the 50,000+ sharewares out there do you need to have clogging upm your pc and hard disk? Mac does what most people need right out of the box.
7. Change platform? what's the problem? run both machines side by side for a while then change platforms at the next upgrade. It will cost no more than you would have paid anyway.
8. I'm a firm believer in using what you are used to. It always gets the best results. I don't use pc and when I have It's been slow, cumbersome, unintuitive and frustrating. Most, if nowt all the reasons for that are that I'm not used to it.
But please, most of the current criticisms of Macs are based on 10 year old folk lore. They are good machines, they do well what they do, the way they do it. So are pcs.
Mac user since 1986 here. I don't understand the hostility towards Windows users who want to skin Windows to look like OSX. Why not? Me, I've got OS X skinned to look (and mostly behave) like OS 9.
I have no problem with people who like Windows itself preferring the superficial appearance of OS X. Go for it.
If you do, in fact, think you might like to own a Mac someday, by all means try it. The Total Cost of Ownership thing is true, they have long useful lives. I'm typing this on a 1998-vintage PowerBook (upgraded CPU, upgraded hard drives, upgraded video options), running OS X 10.3.8. I'm finally about to replace it with a top-of-the-line 17" PowerBook and yes it will be expensive but I'll probably not have to buy its replacement until ~ 2012.
It really is refreshing to see some Mac users come out and at least understanding the place of Windows. Me... I've had some less than star-studded experiences with Macs... but these were clogged with a lot of stupid software that really probably ruined my Mac "experience." As such, I get pretty angry when Mac people rag on PC's as being downright inferior. As a PC enthusiast who owns a Dell, though, I get a lot of pro-AMD or pro-Build-it-Yourself PC people ragging on me, so I get the gist of Mac people who are irritated by PC fanatics.
I can sympathize with the Mac platform, and I can see why people would want to work with it. What I cannot sympathize with is a blatant disregard and disrespect to the merits of the other platform. As suprising as it sounds, most arguments I've seen to be anti-PC hold little or no water, either.
I've got a Fujitsu Lifebook running XP that I've skinned to look like the Mac OSX. I did it mainly for my own amusement; it has caused some confusion with friends who see the desktop and the label on the laptop. I've been asked how I got OSX to work on the Fujitsu.
That is just pathetic.. you can try to look like mac, sound like mac but cant change the fact that your computer wont run like mac.. it will still run like a pc, it would crash and it would have viruses (lots of them!) i like mac in a sense, but lets be realistic.. if you want mac go get one, if you think learning mac is hard.. well just accept that you have a price to pay, rather than an easy windows but you have to sacrifice a lot more!
well.. i still stick with Ubuntu
Is it possible to keep the Objectbar icon out of the dock (I am using Objectdock)?
Anyone knows if this is suitable for gaming rigs?
I love the Mac look, but hate the Macs themselves (Personal prefrence, that's all. I know it's good for editing and stuff, though!)
So, how much memory does this haul take up?
Will all the accounts on your computer be like this or only the one that you download it on? And when you start the computer up will you be able to log on to the different accounts from the Windows XP welcome screen?
do you know how to get rid of the windows recycle bin on the desktop?
To remove the Recycle Bin
If you already have everything installed (mainly objectbar), then on object bar, click View> uncheck "Hide Status Bar". Now, click the start menu, click run, type in "regedit", and follow the instructions on this webpage.
http://tweakxp.com/article36839.aspx.
Great Tutorial guys! I really appreciate this! I do this so that I can appreciate and get used to the mac until i can buy one. I'm very low on funds right now.(I'm 15 without a job, i have no car =[ ).
Yeah, that's great if you want your PC to run like crap....
Also I find it interesting that XP runs like crap anyway unless you turn all its own crappy effects off.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.....
Go buy a Mac and quit frontin'
Why does everyone fight on these stupid things? Why can't everyone just face the facts, Windows and Mac are good in their own ways and bad in their own ways. I've used a system with Windows XP Pro for 3 years on a network and never had a crash or error. I've also used MacOS X for 2 years without any errors or crashes. In the past 4 years I have built over 10 PC's. I may only be 14 but I know the reason why computers (PC's and Mac's) crash. It's because people don't know what the hell they're doing! If you misuse your computer it will fail you. Also Windows is famous for non-stable systems because manufacturers like Dell sell PC's with Windows (Dell sucks!) and stupid, computer retarded, people buy cheap PC's from Dell. And for the guy who said that you would cost a lot to get a good PC I just bought a PC from BuyXG.com for $650 with a AMD Athlon 64, nVidia GeForce 6600 256MB DDR, 1GB DDR, and a Wavemaster Case. I don't think that's very expensive.
Urgh, make my PC into a mac? What IS the point? XP's simple enough, and I'm not sacrificing memory just for "the looks"! When I last had windowblinds it ate memory crazily. (I like my start menu to appear when I click it...)
I have no desire for a mac. They cost something stupid, and I can't see enough benefit to justify it.
But, hey, think it's a nice enough tutorial for ppl who know what they are doing, but it could do with a little bit more explaining *refrains from commenting about mac users*
Even though this is a skin, they'll be able to run mac osx programs?
I want my desktop icons to be like the mac too. with all those white folder's and such. but that panther zip folder isnt workin. do you know where i could get it?
The Crap sorry i mean mac is wac and always has been i agree with you above man hear hear , no body writes viruses for the mac either ,y because whats the point ,most are on a pc so its worth infecting winsows and your town quicker and sitting back and smiling than it is to infect a mac ,windows is pants but lynix is more stable and seeing as macs are lynix based this is y they get the better status. so the answer is if you want a mac y dont you just run lynix on your pc instead ,y -because again no one has written enuff progs to run under it so tits up chaps and bombs away. :)