OS X (look and feel) on Windows
Tweet Follow @robertnymanYou’ve always liked the design of the Mac OS X interface, but still want to/have to stay on Windows? I’m one of those persons, but something recently just got to my attention that can change that; it’s name is Flyakite OS X. From their web site:
FlyakiteOSX is a transformation pack. It will transform the look of an ordinary Windows XP+ system to resemble the look of Mac OS X.
I’ve tried it for a coule of days, and I really like it! Previously, since I’m a geek, I’ve played around with WindowBlinds, but never really fell for it. The only gripe I have so far about Flyakite OS X is that you can’t disable it, you have to uninstall it. Otherwise, it looks really good! Hat off to Shaun Andrews, in whose blog I found the link. Maybe something Faruk should’ve known about before he ran off and bought his Powerbook… 
If you also want to mimic the Dashboard functionaliy, I recommend trying out Konfabulator.
Happy customizing!
14 Comments
October 24th, 2005 at 12:52
That's freaky! Very convincing…
So, given your obvious desire for emulation, will you cross over to the light side once they come with Intel CPUs and should be able to dual boot XP (or Vista.. eventually) and OSX Tiger (or Leopard)???
October 24th, 2005 at 14:42
I've been using it for ages – it's really good. When I come back to using normal XP I can't help but notice how awkward it all looks.
October 24th, 2005 at 18:39
This may be a useful option for the Windows XP install on my work PC that I am not allowed to replace with an iMac G5.
Other than that, I wouldn't ever willingly use a Windows that looks like OS X when I can also get an actual Apple computer and actual OS X. There's much more to it than just the visual interface that's so much better, it's also quality of the hardware, stability and less (or actually, no) hardware-software conflicts or glitches.
Oh, and don't forget the design aspect
But this is most certainly interesting, if it's stable. Olly / Robert, can either of you tell me just how stable it is, really? I've been using the Windows VistaInspirat skin for WinXP, which is basically Windows Vista (as in, Windows trying to get an OS X look and feel) but it's entirely unstable and unreliable, sadly…
October 24th, 2005 at 18:57
I've been using this for a long time, on a fairly crap computer, and I'm quite pleased with it.
My only beef is that Zend, which I am in all day, is Java based, and thus does not receive all of the styling. However, thats really a problem with zend.
I highly, highly reccomend using the Mild Redux visual style with this, much cleaner.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/1771511/
The flyakite website is, on the other hand, a mighty pile o crap.
October 24th, 2005 at 19:05
Steve,
A computer with the ability to dual boot Windows and any Apple OS is definitely something I'd use! Now you've stolen an idea for a post I had…
Olly, Name (required),
Good to hear that it's working fine for you!
Faruk,
Man, you've become quite the fanatic!
I don't want to trick you into anything, but for me it has been working perfectly so far, so I do recommend giving it a test drive.
October 24th, 2005 at 20:58
That Milk Redux is a port of the original milk-theme (http://www.maxthemes.com/themes/?theme=Milk) I've been using the past 1,5 years on my Powerbook. It really outshines Apple's original aqua-look. In a soothing mongo-way.
October 24th, 2005 at 21:30
These guys are soooooo getting sued by Apple for the copy-cat look.
Hey, when I wanted Mac OS look I went and bought a real piece of Apple hardware.
October 24th, 2005 at 22:54
The intel based *developer connection* machines in circulation from Apple dual boot XP or OSX (or so I have read) – If they didn't have to go back at the end of the programme, I'd have bought one (they were only $1000)! I even considered the 'sorry, it got burned in a fire' excuse… before I realised no current software would work without recompilation heh heh
And do still write the post, surely my comment hasn't *stolen your thunder*.
If you need a title? Web Dev Nirvana
October 25th, 2005 at 9:48
markus,
Thanks for the history-lesson!
Milan,
Sued? Why? I thought OS X was open source…
Buying Apple hardware isn't always an option, partly given its steep prices, partly your working enviornment. In Once you go Mac…? I describe what it was like trying to switch to using Mac instead of Windows. All in all, working with .NET was definitely my biggest problem, but since you're a .NET guy, maybe you have some pointers? Or do you just use your Mac for other things?
Steve,
If this is true, it's indeed good information!
We'll see about my thunder, maybe I can regain it somehow…
October 25th, 2005 at 12:48
Hehe, Robert – I read this post just moments after a pretty intensive debate about Apple (yet again), so I was kinda in that 'zone' or whatever you wanna call it.
October 25th, 2005 at 18:36
Faruk,
Ah, that explains it!
October 25th, 2005 at 20:44
Robert, unfortunately I don't have pointers for .NET on Mac.
I haven't used Mono, so I don't know how solid it is. Seeing how big and bulky ASP.NET 2.0 has become it'll probably take them some time to catch up.
I use my Mac for "other things", as you put it.
Good to see these guys got infected by Apple, too.
October 25th, 2005 at 20:52
Milan,
Thanks for your reply!
Yes, I don't know about Mono and ASP.NET 2.0 either…
Oh well, we'll see.
August 12th, 2010 at 16:53
thank you that is nice content. i'm following your blog usually.
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