Build a better Vista for free.

How to build a better Vista for free.

Many people reported serious problems by updating there existing Windows XP (TM) machines to Vista (TM).

Even on brand new machines. See for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVbf9tOGwno

So many people planed to switch to Mac OS/X but still need WinXP up and running on there existing machine. See http://www.apple.com/switch

One solution is to have in the mean time the same Look & Feel for your XP.

Check the two screen shots. Before and after.

Links:

• Is Vista a copy of Mac? Check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ28p-J40d0
• Mac OS X being used over Vista description http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTeP_eh8XAA
• See also this: "User Interface Design (Alan Kay Video - Part II)" on http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978389 (Why not only the user inferface is, what counts. It's also on what the GUI is built on. See at 40:00 for the conclusion.)

Step 1 Just do it.

FlyakiteOSX

Everything you need is described in detail here: http://osx.portraitofakite.com/

Download the Package. There is only one installation file you need.

The installation is very easy.

- You can choose what to to. Optional create a restore point.
- What features you what to need.

During the installation, It will change different files from your XP system.

Here, I select all options, so this will change my XP in a Mac OS/X Look&Feel as much as possible. - Also the login screen will be changed.
NOTE: It will need less then 300MB!

Comments

[mattronix]

macs are for people taht cant work or be botherd for a real os like windows xp linux sucks mac os sucks vista is not that bad xp awsome windows 7 awsome

[Tithen]

personally i think linux is more of an operating system than windows.

[King825]

P.S. finished product:

[joshualater]

 I find it entertaining that people ( not you in particular) bash apple but try to make their pc look like a mac. lol the beautiful interface of OSX with the viruses of Windows yea!! best of both worlds

[Yerboogieman]

Ha! You have McAfee

[berky93]

i have a joke program that makes you think that your system is being updated to vista ultimate, and then it "boots" vista and even shows the opening scrn for it - but then it covers your computer with a pic that makes it look like you are running a mac - LOL

[must invent]

You've got it from RJL Software, right?

[me!]

whats so funny about macs? they are far better then windows for almost everything apart from CAD and gaming and they last ages (im writing this on an original iMac thats runing Tiger!)

[greenbean]

Macs are anti-oldschool computing/optimizing (hacking, not cracking). They are purely artsy fartsy and they are only for those who would rather internet explorer or safari over firefox. Windows is about being open ended. Macs...not so much. Anyways, macs last cause they make there own hardware. A good dell lasts just as long. That has nothing to do with the software. From a developer's view, you can't compare it. Windows wins.

[berky93]

yeah I agree. windows is awesome. I seem to be the only person I know that thinks vista is a good operating system. all you need to do is take the time to adjust things the way you want them and it works out amazingly.

[greenbean]

I agree! All I really had to do was enable telnet and switch the power setting. It's not as old school as xp but you can set it to be, plus the power of vista's newness.

[ReCreate]

everything,those over priced ...umm i don't want to start another debate

[ReCreate]

here is a good quote
the OS was kludgy and messy. It looked like 2-3 people worked on different parts of it, and never collaborated - a mess of brushed metal, candy-cane scroll bars, and glass.

[xACIDITYx]

i tried to download flyakiteOSX. Don't. Safe and Secure sees it as a trojan. i'll trust safe and secure.

[theburn7]

of course it isnt a trojan, the scanner uses heuristics and guesses it is by how the installer was made, as for it has home made coding

[xACIDITYx]

I think I'd rather be safe than screwed.

[elluart0609]

yeah. i looked up a couple of forums commenting on flyakite, and 8/10 say that their computers get screwed up completely and have to reset the computer.

[fwjs28]

the trojan didn't screw it up (there is no trojan btw) it was their stupidity...

[Arbitror]

I agree!

[fwjs28]

haha, digging up the long dead comments much? :P 

[Arbitror]

Ya, I like lookin' at 'ibles, and replying to dead comments!

[fwjs28]

lol..now im going to prowl you're really old comments and find the randomest ones and comment them.. :D

[amummau]

I agree. I tried this and found a Trojan too.

[ProjectZro]

very true and a smart statement dont use vistaosx either it will screw your computer something fierce when you try to uninstall. look at the comment above i may make an instructable on it

[strcrusher]

really awe man I just installed vistaosx but mine didn't lag or anything it works perfectly oh maby I'm just lucky

[Arbitror]

So this is just a skin? So it doesn't really change Windows XP into a Mac...

[albylovesscience]

if you want to take screen shots of your screen activity just bring up windows paint and then go to what you want to screen shot then press the print screen/sysrq button next to scroll lock then go back to paint and left click then paste

[King825]

I completely disagree. I have installed this program, and not a thing has lagged a bit more than it ever has. Thank you, Michi, I love my new "Mac"

[ProjectZro]

dude its a longer prosses but better, get RK launcher look for the 0.41 beta ( http://windowsedge.com/Downloads/RKLauncher_Vista.exe ) it has a couple of good fixes, and download windowblinnds from http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/ and get this theme http://www.wincustomize.com/download.aspx?skinid=4881&libid=1

and vuala you have mac for pc without changing system file and what not you can even make the tiger logon screen and get screensavers at www.wincustomize.com

[puffyfluff]

You should use screenshots instead of taking pictures of your screen.

[Xellers]

Sorry, but the program you used made your machine look bad... I don't think I'd want to try this... However, you did encourage me to try to find another mac theme pack that works well. I've seen some very nice ones...

[royalestel]

This doesn't even make sense considering your title. Eh?

[royalestel]

Why not retitle this to "How to make your XP look like a Mac?"

[michi]

If the Vista is a copy of the Mac, then this is the Vista on XP. ;-)
See for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ28p-J40d0

[royalestel]

I'm not a big 'tuber. But I didn't think Vista was a copy of Mac. I mean, Windows 3.11, sure, but after that everyone was just trying to make their systems more user friendly and common principles guide GUI design.

[lbrewer42]

Use both systems extensively. You will see Vista is not a copy of OS X in one way - it is not as user friendly and leaves out a lot of good features like OS X Expose' - I wonder how I lived without it! It is a copy in the idea of widgets and gadgets (Hmmm... no similarity in these names now is there?) -- but OS X's concept of the Dashboard is much more versatile. Gates copied the concept of the Spotlight for searching - looks the same - just put it in a different corner. There is no dock in Vista - which I sorely miss when in Windows. The one third party dock I downloaded to install - not surprisingly - crashed the system and bogged it down. I was hoping Vista would actually be a good competitive product. Use both systems and see what you think.

[birhat_zaxoyi]

hop hop

[crestind]

Macs are fine, but the skin is so minimalist I feel bored.

So for a much more exciting Vista skin (nothing against your Instructable)-

http://www.windowsxlive.net/?page_id=15
Vista Transformation Pack 6.0! Glass borders when used with Windowblinds.

[Weissensteinburg]

..So in your opinion, vista is just a better looking version of xp?

[LasVegas]

IMO, Vista is better looking. Vista has some pretty cool features that XP never had. No. It's not a new version of XP. Vista is much slower, less responsive and not quite ready for primetime. Again this is My Opinion. Yes. I have used it, but primarily am a Mac user. IMO, other than new computer purchases, users should wait until at least SP1.