Make your windows look like an Apple Mac
Its been a long time since I made desktop customization except for the regular change of the wallpaper that I do…So, I decided it was time to spice up my desktop and decided to go for the MacOS look…I already had the best windows look, since I had Vista. So now how do I go about making my desktop looking like MacOS? First a little basics on the Mac world for all those MS Windows lovers out there…
Macs run the OS X which succeed the Mac OS operating system, and you might be interested to know that all of Mac OSX versions have been named after the big cats family like the OSX puma, panther, Jaguar, leopard and so on…The latest in the line of the cats is the snow leopard..and here we have a screenshot which should make things a bit more clear
Now that we know how the interface looks lets work on changing the interface..The first important part of the OSX interface is the “dock” which you will find at the bottom of the screen..
So, we download that one. I found two free alternatives to the “dock” for windows, one is Objectdock from Stardock and the other is Rocketdock from Punklabs. There are other alternatives too, but these are the two I decided to try out…Stardock has been a company synonymous with the best windows skinning programs like Windowblinds, DesktopX etc..and after trying out both of the products, I decided, much to my surprise that Rocketdock worked better for me, it was simple and easier to use..but I would say that making the choice is merely a matter of random selection.
Now we have Rocketdock installed, lets load it. Add icons, right click the dock to add new icons, separators and docklets (like clocks, weather icons etc..)
I write this post primarily for windows users and so I would know how much have come to love the convenience of minimizing to the taskbar. So, right click on the dock -> dock settings -> General tab and enable the “Minimize windows to the dock” checkbox.
The second app we need to download is, Objectbar. This is for the top bar and also to ensure that you continue to have access to your tray icons and to make the transformation complete.
lets get the last bit of the interface quick now, the wallpaper. You can get the original set here.
The dock icons are usually .png icons and you can download them as per your requirement from deviantART.
And this is how my desktop looks now…
The disclaimer part
I love windows and I love the mac as well. I do not have a Mac. All copyrights, trademarks, brandnames are all properties of their corresponding owners. This is not a post for Mac purists. It is for an ordinary windows user who wants to add some spice to his desktop. It wont change your windows to make it look and feel as good as Mac. you should get a Mac if you want the experience…
Update Aug.07, 2009: Get OSX font smoothing for windows as well!
Hi.. Object bar is not free and your objectbar link takes me to objectdock!!
Hi.. phoenix,
Object bar is not free but a shareware version is available, which lets you use only 3 themes (lucky that one of them is a Mac theme) So that solves your problem
And thanks for pointing that out…link has been updated…
this article is great! Now I finally have Leopard look. ObjectBar it’s not free, but who cares
Jans last blog post..The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done
hi, pheonix, even I had the same problem so I decided to workaround it, and you can change your windows theme to make it look like a Mac. Check it out at http://thunderror.com/customizing-your-desktop-changing-your-windows-vista-theme/
I too use RocketDock, its free which is a plus. It is a great tool to keep you productive by bypassing the start menu and also keeping your desktop clean by having an auto-hide feature.
A free alternative to Objectbar is Desktop Sidebar by sidebarxp:
BTW, Here is a great video tutorial on how to install, setup, beautify & organize RocketDock: RocketDock, Increase Productivity And Coolness Factor To Your Desktop
please send me the object bar the one shown in the above pic
I just changed my look as well from Vista to the Mac look. How do I know if it is leapord or whatever it is.. I have just always loved the look.. mind looked like the very first pic up top, cept I dont have many icons.. How do i add icons to my box?
Thanks SO MUCH!
i dl object dock and now i have two sets of icons.. i moved one to the top.. how do i get rid of the other that came when i downloaded the vista os x 09 version from patrickgs.deviant.com.. awesome program by the way.. thanks.
Icons are added to the box, by dragging them plus u can find high quality icons from deviantart for applications (use the search on dA)…
Right click and say exit/close on whichever dock do not wish to use…
no
Great work.
great great
this is a stupid program you shoul download it off a better website just playing great work on the way you got to obtain the information on the toolbar this is a really neat program and best of all it is free so now my windows xp pro now looks like my favorite computer company software.
Snow leopard hasn’t come out, Snow Leopard is apples next project, the current system thats out and the one that screenshot is taken from is just Leopard
If I load this and change my windows to this look and I don’t like it, is it possible to get rid of it?
I’m a bit scared because I read somewhere else that you can’t undo it and there’s a possibility that you can never go back to your windows look?
Thanks
u should hiv us a free a downlod peple
i love this background
Dude, this was so easy to figure. thanks so much for an easy access and quick links. Awesome site.
i want my destop 2 look like a mac
can i get a download link to get a snow leopard theme for my object bar
Oh its really amazing, I really wanted to amend my desktop like it tell me the procedure.