Turn your PC into a Mac

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 � 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

[Ashley Manton @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Very nice if you've got XP, but not everyone has. I understand that pre-XP Windows have a lot of different technology but surely someone could come up with a way around this? Not everyone uses XP so come on somebody. Please!

[Th3-0n3 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

How can I have the min, max and close buttons in mac style in I tunes? When I download and install itunes it are ugly grey windowish buttons...

thx

[hany fouad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

i love mac

[John Magruder @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

You folks want a Macintosh so badly? Go out and get one. This way you don't have to go through the whole tedious process of "dressing up" your machine so that it appears like that which you desire..... You get what kinda looks like a Mac without any of the benefits. In fact you get to keep all the problems of your Windows machine.

That's like vegetarian bacon. Kinda looks like bacon, vaguely smells bacon-like, tastes like total garbage.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Ive had a very hard time convincing my m8s that os x beats xp easily. OSX is the best op ever. once you use a mac u will never go back and that is the truth!!!

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Well, I've had limited expereince with OS X, and needless to say, I love it. But, due to whatever circumstances, I still appreciate certain characteristics of Windows -- like it's [unfortunate] prevelance in the commercial environment. I build PCs for a hobby and get a little extra income from it, and from what I hear, PC hardware runs faster. For whatever reason though, it seems that the Mac OS is a little sluggish by comparison, despite the fact that it seems to multi-task better. In general, however, it all seems to balance out when you've skinned your Windows to look like the Mac -- it slows Windows down to do so. But whatever, I still appreciate both systems.

[suprli @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

You didn't mention what you're using for the weather. It looks nice. Is it Samurize that you're using for it?

I'd recommend using DesktopX for a lot of this stuff as well. DesktopX has a lot of excellent objects that fit nicely on the desktop.

[Alku @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I love mac but i dont own one, mainly cause lack of money for invest such a thing. But, before i will have those 2000 euros, i will be able to use 'Mac' as theme on my PC. And maybe get familiar with the Mac.

"You get what kinda looks like a Mac without any of the benefits. In fact you get to keep all the problems of your Windows machine."

True but, Mac has it's problems, like everyother operating system. Windows is just a bit famous with their problems.

[Ed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Following your link above to the Panther icons, I downloaded the zip file, then unzipped but got 4 .rar files that I can't do anything with. Please help.

[omar @ Mar 18th 2008 8:38PM]

hahaha nice nice

[Ed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Following your link above to the Panther icons, I downloaded the zip file, then unzipped but got 4 .rar files that I can't do anything with. Please help.

[Quiller @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

"You folks want a Macintosh so badly? Go out and get one."

Who said I want a Mac? I don't; I love my PC and I love the way Windows functions. At work I use a Mac and PC equally, and I still prefer the way Windows functions. The difference is that I also like the *look* of Mac-- all the prettiness of OS X, all the functionality of XP.

Anyone that wants to save a couple megs of RAM, think about using PatchXP to bypass the need for StyleXP. You can use the same themes and styles, just no need to run another program in the background.

[jk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

ok well i downloaded panther and extracted it in C:windowsresourcesthemes folder. but when i double click the icon, display properties pop up but the style is still the windows style. what did i do wrong?

[incubowski @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I have samurize but does anyone know where i can get the config for the clock used here?

[moe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

can anyone tell me were i can dl this panther v 1:1 it wont let me dl it can anyone plz telll me

[Brendan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Well basically i find its pretty sad how people want to make over xp to look like OS X. Like dude its just stupid people bag out Macs so much and then here they are trying to forge their pc to be a mac. I know macs are expensive actually im switching to a mac from a pc and im gonna be spending about over 2 grand ($AUD) just to get a basic mac. See what turns people off getting macs is that you have to buy all the software for it.

Persoanlly i really reckon its sad if you want windows xp to look like Os x and dont want to spend that much money for it go ahead. But if you want a computer which is stable and doesnt have as many errors as windows does get a mac. Windows Xp and beyond will become freeware in the future its just really stuffed.

[nas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

i want to download it please..

[Arthur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Anyone know the name of that Rainlender skin shown and how to get it?

[Arfeen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

If you could provide us with all links, like Milk theme, the other Objectbar Skin from crni’s website. Provide details man..

[john @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

find so far

[Arthur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I did some digging around and found some links:

Milk Suite for Samurize: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/sidat/Samurize/konfabulator_milk_suite_v3.htm

(Please follow the instructions closely. There is an update to the media plugin on the Samurize forum to fix a bug http://www.samurize.com/modules/ipboard/index.php?s=770deeaf94d637dcc838640d4aed7bc0&act=Attach&type=post&id=34928 )

If that link doesn't work, go to http://www.samurize.com/ then forum, support and AMPI support.

As for the Rainlendar skin, I found a similar one called frosted glass, but I lost the link... if someone wants it I can email it, or better still, I can upload the relevant files if someone can host them. I know how hard it is to find everything...

Here are some good links...
Iceman's Emulation Page (Jaguar visual style): http://www.jonmega.com/iceman/

Dock Extensions Docklets (for use with y'z dock and other docks):
http://dockex.com/index.php?pageId=docklets

InterfaceLIFT (great selection of icons):
http://interfacelift.com/

Hope that helps!

[Arthur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

one more thing... that file (iTunesSamurizeInfo.dll) is to fix a bug in Samurize 1.55 regarding the iTunes plugin. This file should go into the iTunes plugin folder (typically C:Program FilesiTunesplug-ins). However, if you do not plan to use the media widget in the milk suite with iTunes, you don't have to bother.

[Eddie Stoner ([e-mail]) @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

How would i get my windows xp to look and act like mac os x? Like completly looking like it including icons, menus (disabling windows task bar), desktop, explorer, and the effects how it looks like the windows it stretching when you minimize and maximize them.
Thanx

[Eddie Stoner ([e-mail]) @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

How do I make my windows xp have the same effects as mac os x, i mean how the windows stretch when you maximise them and ninamize them? Thanx e-mail me with reply :)

[Duy-Khang Hoang @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I can't understand why Mac fans have to always ruin these types of endeavours. I am a software tester by profession... I use all sorts of hardware/OS/software configurations... and let me tell you, OSX is just as troublesome as any other OS, and in my opinion, more so... I really do not enjoy working with Mac's (what is the deal with the one stubborn persistence to only 1 mouse button?)... that being said, I don't hate everything about it, I like that it's built on Unix technology, I like certain aspects of it's asthetics etc etc. (FYI, I run my system plain as can be, no themes nothing). To those Mac fans out there, get a life and quit being so biased... face the facts... windows borrows some things from Mac, Mac borrows from windows, and once Linux gets its ease of use and compatibility level up to windows standards (and hopefully beyond) it will definitely be the OS of choice for many more ppl.

[The Caveman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I have the windowblinds AND StyleXP Mac OSX Panther skins applied, but it didn't do anything to the scrollbar. It's just ugly classic Windows grey. Please help me. Also, where can I find that ObjectBar skin?

[Chris Sanchez @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

"Following your link above to the Panther icons, I downloaded the zip file, then unzipped but got 4 .rar files that I can't do anything with. Please help."

You need to use a program called WinRar. It's like Winzip but it's native file system is the ".rar" file (and also, it compresses a bit more than winzip). Search for "Winrar" on Google or just download it at the link below.

http://www.download.com/WinRAR/3000-2250-10007677.html?part=dl-winrar&subj=dl&tag=button

[M-RES @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I've been a Mac fan since '85 (pre-Windows) and have to use both platforms at home and at work and I have to say the Mac is definitely the more stable for day to day work, although I still get on well with Win2K as a decent stable server OS (provided it's left running 24/7 and not tasked too much - but then, to be fair, it's only a PIII 450). I don't think Mac fans intentionally TRY to spoil these things, I think it's just that we've been stuffed in a corner and told we're 'incompatible' (hehehehe... with what? a toaster?) for so long that it causes a knee-jerk reaction to anything even slightly anti-Mac. Both platforms have their pros and cons, their funky shareware, their security holes... blah blah blah, but in general I find the Mac faster to navigate and more pleasant to look at and anything that dresses up 'doze to look more Mac-like can only serve to make my life easier. The biggest pain in the arse is the head-blag of switching nav-styles and remembering keyboard shortcuts on 2 different platforms (3 if you include OS 9!!!).
Linux has a little way to go yet to reach the ease of set-up etc that the Mac currently has, but it's certainly making me think seriously for my next-gen PC server :)

End of the day - ALL platforms are shite in comparison with every other piece of household tech we use. Do we need to know how our washing machines wash our clothes to use them effectively? NO... so why should we need to know so much about computers to get the most out of them? Truth is, we shouldn't... and all the computer giants out there should have sorted this by now (they have enough cash for f***s sake).

Peace... and keep /.

[LALOi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

http://free-st.htnet.hr/crni/ - Enjoy guys!

[hellsbellboy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

how to u make the ICONs work after unpacking them from the zip and rar's? where do u install them too..

I have StyleXP 2.11 but the icons don't seem to run thru that..

thx u for any help.

[mike-t @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

The only thing that the mac has, is that they're very good on visual stuffs, BUT THAT'S ALL!
my windows is compatible with every single program that i've downloaded from the internet...try that on a mac.

[Huy Le @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Since when is Windows compatible with EVERY program on the net. Freaking..retarded ass mo fo. And Macs are very good in more than visual stuff why would the FBI use it if itt's good for only "visual stuff" And that guy that complain about using a 1 button mouse. Why the hell did you use it in the first place...just get yourself a 2 button mouse. Not that hard.

[Birki69 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I love what these tolls can do to XP.

But I got a question: what skin is the one you used for rainleander, cuz i cant find it.

thanks in advance

[MACenvy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

My question is that even with the skins, I'm not sure which font I should use to make it look like a MAC.

Thanks!

[Danny @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Is this guide compatible with Windows 2000?

[Christopher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I like the visual style of OS X over XP's but many programs I have on my computer are only compatible with windows. And my prefered OSX skin is OSXP NG by Judge. It's very nice looking and let's you put the x - + buttons on the left side because it's a windows blinds skin.

[colettekid @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

where can i get the YzToolbar for the mac look ive done everything else exepct for that
plz hlp

[Don Luchini @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I took a look at this, the results look way too much like MacOS X. This is definitely a UI upgrade that I'm going for.

BTW, I notice that you have Safari and iDVD icons, and there aren't ports of those to Windows yet.

[zak @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Can someone do me a favor? I cant download all the files so can someone zip a folder with all the files an email it to [e-mail] thanks

[faris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

http://beverlyhills.web.infoseek.co.jp/vs.html (very good place for VS and other MAC2XP stuff)

Y'z Shadow and Toolbar http://www2.ueda.ne.jp/~higuchi/htm/Download-e.htm

The Rainlender skin shown by Kurt Williams(u'll have to tweak the colours and background a bit to make it look exactly the same):
http://beverlyhills.web.infoseek.co.jp/others.html
{Select


Plus, if you dont want to try Rainmeter, try SystemMeter:
http://ta2027.plala.jp/SystemMeter.htm

and this skin for it, which looks a bit like the Samurize Digital clock shown above...
http://beverlyhills.web.infoseek.co.jp/systemmeter.html
(select the Digiclock skin :D )

Place for icons, themes and wallpapers:
http://interfacelift.com/
http://www.rad-e8.com/downloads/icons/

Docklets to add to Y'z Dock:
http://dockex.com/index.php?pageId=docklets

If you want to convert Firefox for winXP to Safari for Mac OSX:
http://www.deviantart.com/view/8437801/
plus
http://beverlyhills.web.infoseek.co.jp/themes.html(for more 'Safarifox' themes)


More help plus full guide available at:
http://www.osx-e.com/articles.php?action=show&id=4&perpage=1&pagenum=1

[Richard van Heukelum @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I don't see why. Just because 'all your downloaded apps are windows compatible'? Maybe it's because of the fact you only download windows compatible apps! Why should I try to run a Windows-app on a Mac or v.v. in the first place?

Since we introduced a XServe into our Mac/Windows environment to replace our Windows 2000 server, it runs for over 2,5 years, without one restart, or one virus-attack. Out of the box, it took me 4 hours to get it up and running, and the Pc's in our network have no trouble at all communicating with it.

I used pc's for years, but I never seem to be 'in control' of them. I am when it comes to my Apple. Yes, sometimes a problem occurs, but they are very rare.

I don't find Windows-users retarded as I read in an earlier posting, neither do I find Mac-users superior to Windows-users. But I'll never switch back to Windows again, ever. It's the same with the 'battle' between Quark's XPress and Adobe's InDesign. Even though Quark is the best selling pagelayout application, there's no doubt what is the best application.

By the way - Mac's aren't expensive at all. After buying a pc, and upgrading it to 'your' standards, you've spend more bucks than a macuser. I know that for sure.

[faris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

when i said "Plus, if you dont want to try Rainmeter, try SystemMeter", i actually wanted to say Samuraize, not Rainmeter...sorry about that folks.
Adding the Digiclock skin (link given in above post) to SystemMeter:
unzip the Digiclock folder and copy it to the "Skins > meter" folder in the main System Meter folder.


Here are the details on how to configure the konfab_clone skin for Rainlendar (link given in prev post) to make it look like the Rainlendar shown in the scrn shot:
After uve installed the skin, right click and select Skins > Edit current skin. Then for each item such as weekdays, month and year, change the default bitmap to a bitmap with a similar name, but with 'white' at the end...(the bitmaps are located in the Program Files > Rainlendar > Skins > Konfab_clone folder )If you did everything right, it should look quite similar to the scrnshot shown by kurt williams.

[brc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

why dosent anyone make stuff ofr the Aqua Dock??? i cant find anything to go along with it.
plz hlp

[webmonkey pi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

i found yztoolbar but i cant find any skins point me in direction plz

hlp me

[segell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Hey, can anyone who has the milk theme for y'z toolbar please e-mail it to me
[e-mail]
thanks a bunch :>

[Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

One of the features i like is when u go to the top right/top left in osx it will either cascade or hide. Is this emulated at all?

[valentin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

is it possible to change the apple logo the small on on top left on taskbar with an win one ? how ?

[zadow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

look, u mac fans r weird, macs are not at all more stable, i use them time to time and never swore more since the time i got a processor with bent pins!

the mac interface is a lot nicer than windows with all the animations and the way it works.

the reason macs are so stable is because most windows users will once in their lives use some porly written program for windows that will cause these errors, mac users may never since not many people write progs for macs. windows has the majority of the market, which is also why macs are so expensive! i would be more than happy to use a mac if there was the programs and the general stability of windows behind it but there just isnt.

just a little thought, mac programmers managed to get windows emulated on mac before win programmers got mac emulated on a pc, now to me thats saying the mac users are desperate for windows.

win users generally like the interface of mac but not all the features, and are willing to lower performence to a mac standard to get it!!! (had to say that) all operating systems are as shit as each other, mac osx is as stable as windows me, and thats sad, windows is just famous for its errors, mac is not, although mac can be a pain in the backside sometimes.

now will all u little insecure mac people just shut up because the macs are slow poor performers for gaming and most other tasks.

[lustiouss @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

...as long as the fruit that Eve gave Adam doesn't give it the smack down.

Why doctor XP run the real thing!

Visit http://pearpc.sourceforge.net/

[asho @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

zadow,

I run a network of mac os x.2/3 machines. There has not been a single system crash on the network in over a year. I kind of doubt this is true for any windows network. say what you want, we got unix now.