can I make OSX look like OS9?

Posted:
in Mac Software edited January 2014
I really don't like Aqua. The folder shading is horrible and all that pinstripe and brushed metal is ugly.



And is there any way of bringing back pop-up folders at the base of the screen?
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 24
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    Yea, select "System Preferences..." from the Apple Menu. When it loads, click on "Startup Disk," the hard drive icon with a question mark in it. Select the Mac OS 9 install on your computer. Select "Quit" from the "System Prefs" menu, then select "Restart..." in the Apple Menu.



    Have fun.



  • Reply 2 of 24




    <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/themes/classicplatinum.htm"; target="_blank">http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/themes/classicplatinum.htm</a>;



    USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!



    I cannot emphasize that enough. Installing themes is a VERY dangerous game because they permanently delete and overwrite crucial pieces of the system. For classic-like icons, see <a href="http://www.xicons.com"; target="_blank">Xicons</a>.



    As for pop-up folders, no.



    [ 09-19-2002: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>
  • Reply 3 of 24
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    I've never seen an image that looked any more like ass...



    That is horrid.
  • Reply 4 of 24
    If you don't like X then why even use it.
  • Reply 5 of 24
    Well, while you can, as Brad said, make X look like 9... I think you're missing something.



    You really need to let go of the past. 9 is dead. It's gone. It is no more. Soon the day will come when you can't make things look like 9 anymore. It's like holding on to the memories of the first girl that broke your heart. Let her go. Let 9 go. It's better for you this way, really...
  • Reply 6 of 24
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    [quote]Originally posted by jasonfj:

    <strong>And is there any way of bringing back pop-up folders at the base of the screen?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You're supposed to put them in the Dock, but since folders don't pop up in there (yet), it's not as useful at the moment.
  • Reply 7 of 24
    I think aqua looks much nicer in graphite, which you can set in the general system preferences.



    [quote] Soon the day will come when you can't make things look like 9 anymore.<hr></blockquote>



    Yes, but by then we'll all be asking how we can make system XII look like aqua!



    Andrew
  • Reply 8 of 24
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    Firstly, how many people are using OS 9? OS X?



    Second, how many people can use OS X compared to OS 9?



    Also, I personally think Aqua is ugly. That's my right. What's wrong with customization? Wanting an OS 9 theme also doesn't mean I think OS X "sucks" or that I think OS 9 is "better." I just think Platinum is less obtrusive, and therefore I like it better. I like an OS Theme that I don't notice.
  • Reply 9 of 24
    kecksykecksy Posts: 1,002member
    Platinum looks the same as Windows 9x. I want to forget having ever used Windows 9x. Switched from OS 9 to ME to OS X, and I miss 9 and Platinum about as much as I miss Windows.



    Of course Apple doesn't realize that people have different tastes. I like Aqua, but that doesn't mean everyone does.



    And and I'm sure most of the 2.2 million OS X users are just as productive now as they were in 9. Maybe even more productive with the help of premptive multi-tasking. I'm more productive, especially since I never have to waste time rebooting my machine.



    [ 09-20-2002: Message edited by: Kecksy ]</p>
  • Reply 10 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by Aquatik:

    <strong>

    Also, I personally think Aqua is ugly. That's my right. </strong><hr></blockquote>



    So, you hate Aqua, but you decided to name yourself Aquatik?



    Anywho, themes are no problem, Apple made the ability "built-in" in 9 and now people have found away around it in X...it is a part of life..... <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 11 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by Nebagakid:

    <strong>Anywho, themes are no problem, Apple made the ability "built-in" in 9 and now people have found away around it in X...it is a part of life..... </strong><hr></blockquote>Did you not read my post? :confused:



    THERE IS NO SANCTIONED METHOD FOR DEVELOPING AND APPLYING THEMES IN MAC OS X.



    I know this for a fact. I've made themes myself. I've followed the history and development of the various theming applications for Mac OS X since the Public Beta. In Classic Mac OS, there was actually a plug-in architecture setup via the Appearance Manager to apply themes to the system. This was developed for Copland, then Mac OS 8, but not included until Mac OS 8.5. There is *not* any similar system for Mac OS X. All of the theme "installer" programs like Duality and MetamorphX do exactly what I described above: they systematically DELETE key files in from the Carbon HIToolbox framework (and others too, especially with 10.2) and replace them with hacked files. If anything is wrong with the hacked files or if it something goes wrong during the replacement procedure, your Mac can rendered completely unusable with exception of the command-line in single-user mode.



    *shrug* Am I making any headway here? What do I have do say to get people to understand that there is *no* built-in support for themes on Mac OS X and that installing themes can be very dangerous if you don't know exactly what is being changed and how to fix it?
  • Reply 12 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by Brad:

    <strong>For classic-like icons, see <a href="http://www.xicons.com"; target="_blank">Xicons</a>.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Here are the relevant sets from Xicons.com: Edit: fixed links



    [ 09-21-2002: Message edited by: dillyo1001 ]</p>
  • Reply 13 of 24
    geez some people dont wanna give up..

    OS X THE SH*T!! I use it more often then my OS 9. I rarely even boot into OS 9 anymore. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    I only use OS 9 for virtual PC, and yes i know VPC 5 works in X as well, and to play playstation using CVGS. heh.



    So jason_whats_your name, give it a rest. If you want OS 9's looks, use the native OS 9. Brad is right. I've messed with themes and i havent had a problem switiching back but its RISKY!







    Take care ppl.
  • Reply 14 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by Brad:

    <strong>.</strong><hr></blockquote>





    To comment on that screenshot Brad posted... I personally think that that screenshot is U G L Y! It makes OS X look retro. Its stupid looking..... But if some ppl insist then let them.



    i fixed the goofed-up UBB code in your post - Brad



    [ 09-22-2002: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>
  • Reply 15 of 24
    chuckerchucker Posts: 5,089member
    I tried several themes and it worked better than I hoped (nothing got messed up), but all of them had something in common: Compared to Aqua, they were UGLY!!! Including the "pinstripe-less aqua".
  • Reply 16 of 24
    And the proof of the pudding is in the eating... <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 17 of 24
    aquaticaquatic Posts: 5,602member
    I used to think Aqua was cool. For two seconds. When I registered, yeah.



    However, you can't argue that you don't notice Aqua. It's obtrusive. Like the way Windows says "Windows could not find that drive.." or "Windows would like you to go buy Microsoft xyz..." or "Windows this" "Windows that".. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    Why can't Apple add Themes?

    Or at least "flavors" like in IE or System 7?
  • Reply 18 of 24
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    I've never considered Aqua distracting. On the other hand, I have always disliked Platinum as a dull, clunky vestige of Apple's attempt to look "professional" and business-friendly. The first thing I thought when I booted my Cube into Aqua the first time was "white's back! yay!" Just like the older Mac OS look.



    Before anyone goes ranting about how OS X isn't themeable, consider how long Mac OS wasn't! Apple can't hope to add theme support - no small undertaking - while the user interface is still being settled. Once Carbon and Cocoa have been fully reconciled, and Aqua has settled down and matured, Apple can go to the trouble of creating a limited ability to theme the OS. I think it's in their interest to, over the long haul. They're already sort of heading that way: Witness the ease with which the brushed metal look can be applied.



    Of course, the whole interface will be hardcoded to assume fonts at a certain width and height, and if you choose one that's too big or too small or too wide you'll see some really ugly side effects, just like with Kaleidoscope under OS 9. But within those limited parameters Apple could provide something.



    Personally, I consider themes to be an admission of defeat: Here, we can't make this interface look good, so you try.
  • Reply 19 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>Of course, the whole interface will be hardcoded to assume fonts at a certain width and height, and if you choose one that's too big or too small or too wide you'll see some really ugly side effects, just like with Kaleidoscope under OS 9. But within those limited parameters Apple could provide something.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I would think that Avie and the OS team, having seen what a mess the Classic OS and Copeland were under the hood due to such hard coding, would not make that mistake again. Their software teams, however, seem to have limited contact with one another, so I imagine that that's where the hard coding mistakes would happen. The only time I notice Aqua strongly is in small areas like some applications' placards that insist on trying to use the striping in such a small area. They have been making better use of the "thin" and "thick" pinstriping to differentiate adjacent fields, which is nice and subtle. That was one thing that bothered me in early Aqua builds. they also toned down the contrast in the striping a bit in that time too. If anything bothers me the most about aqua, it's the top central "light" metaphor that it uses instead of light coming from the top left to the bottom right. I think it would greatly improve legibility to have it lit like that. I say "poo" on symmetry!



    I remember my first impression of Platinum: much more 3D with its icons and some elements like the progress bar, which looked cool. And after trying many a theme in Kaliedoscope, I concluded that it very well laid out -- better than any other schemes. But I thought the gray looked dark and dull like Windows 95. I'm happy to have a happy UI again.



    I think Apple could just add more colors in place of blue and graphite and a lot of people will be happy. Not the people who expect Apple to solve world hunger every Expo, but a lot of other people would be content with at least that much. I'm actually a big nay-sayer to the idea that themes should be able to rearrange the layout of window elements willy-nilly. I don't care if you change the stop light widgets to little squares, or from colors to gray, but I think some things should be consistent on all Apple machines for the sake of 1. familiarity for anyone using them, therefore making them easier to learn and get oriented with 2. the value of Apple's brand, 3. because a lot of designers worked on that UI and it would dismiss their efforts and, 4. it would concede that Apple has little authority or expertise on good design.



    [edit: minor correction in bold]



    [ 09-22-2002: Message edited by: BuonRotto ]</p>
  • Reply 20 of 24
    ast3r3xast3r3x Posts: 5,012member
    Although I can't imagine how hard with would be (or how much it would task the system) but there was a thread kinda like this that talked about people wanted a hue shifter like in audion. I have to say, this would be really cool!



    ...have you ever played around with the hue of an aqua button in PS?



    Also, thing that bothers me about aqua is the lighting, on scroll bars, light comes from the left, but buttons it comes from the top.



    Aqua is a beautiful interface though, that doesnt get in my way...cept for being slower on my older G3 B&W. But that is because i'm too poor to get a new machine right now. I was at my friends house this wkend and XP had an aqua theme on...guess what the scroll bars looked like...in a purple hue
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