Aqua-Soft Forums

Suggestions on Creating a STABLE emulated MAC OSX on Windows XP

First of all i would like to clarify that i am new to all of this Mac emulation and windows customization(Been messing with it for about 3 weeks everyday). I'm teaching myself about this as fast as I can. Secondly I have read a lot of the tutorials on transforming a PC into a MAC so there is no need in wasting a post telling me to go there. My main problem is that i can't seem to find an emulated environment that satisfies me, everything seems to work but i can't seem to find the right programs that perform the best together. Also I ask a crapton of questions i don't expect one person to answer them all but if people could answer as many as possible i will greatly appreciate it.

So. . . When I found out about all this customization I got a little too excited and started downloading as many emulating tools as possible. As of right now i believe that i have over indulged and my computer seems to be mildly confused on what is going on. My computer's confusion is not severe, nothing a little uninstalling and cleaning won't take care of.

So what i want to know, from an experienced user's perspective, what collection of programs best emulate a clean MAC OS with solid system stability...

Programs I Use

- Flyakite-

o Now I like this program but i feel like it is very bulky and I could do a better job customizing

things without it. Is it really necessary?

o I also feel like i have no control over what it does to my system is there any way to control

this? is there some kind of control panel or settings for this program? (I couldn't find one)

-ObjectBar-

o I believe the menu bar on the MAC is one of its best features, the Objectbar does an amazing

job of emulating the menu bar but i feel that it conflicts with the Windows Taskbar too much.

*-* I tried Finderbar and i liked how it molded with Window's Taskbar and didn't replace it.

But it doesn't support active window control with it's menu, is there an alternative to

Objectbar that incorporates the taskbar, and allows for active window control?

o I also noticed there was a lot of useless optionstoolsshortcuts utilized on the bar. Is there a

way to make everything work?

o I had trouble getting the active window to show up on the Objectbar, how do you utilize this

feature? is there a way to replace application's menus??

o An advanced tutorial, or just any kind of tutorial, on this program would be a godsend

anybody have a link to this or even know of one?

-RK_Launcher-

o I have had the least amount of problems with this program and i absolutely love it. The only

issue i have with this program is that some programs i use (Trillion) runs out of the Windows

Taskbar and only the Instant Message windows show up in the launcher, is there a way to

make this show in the Launcher?

o Also When i receive a Message, there is no indication from RK-Launcher are there ways to

make the icon bounce out of the launcher like it would in a MAC?

-Miscellaneous Questions-

o Like i mentioned above i have had trouble with the active window bar being recognized by

Objectbar how would one remove the menu bars in other programs? is it possible?

o I have used MSS styles to alter the appearance of my windows, but i recently found ShellWM but

it freezes up when i try to load a skin, is there a program in specific that would interfere with

this?

From the looks of it I am also using Styler, Ubericon, and Y'z Shadow, in addition to RK_Launcher and Object Bar. i feel like ShellWM would eliminate my mssstyle but it keeps freezing, is there something conflicting with it, what would make it freeze like that?

*note: I'm not sure of all the programs i installed so i may have programs running that i am unaware of*

I have some other emulator programs installed, but i felt like i need to get the core emulator programs running smoothly before i add any the finishing touches. But if anybody could recommend some other programs that effectively mimic a MAC I would greatly appreciate it.

Also ANY TIPS, TRICKS, OR SUGGESTIONS I COULD MAKE TO THE MAIN EMULATING PROGRAMS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS WELL.

Sorry for such a gigantic post but i have a lot of questions, and i will appreciate any help or suggestion. I encourage any kind of help, sorry if I'm such a Newbie, but you have to start somewhere...

Thank You.

#494487

Firstly, there isn't really a foolproof solution to what you want. there are a lot of factors that you would have to consider when doing this 'mac emulation' thing:

-your OS, what version, service pack, updates etc

-your hardware, drivers, peripherals, etc

-what tasks you're using your pc for

-your 'must-have' applications and pc security preferences

-are you willing to shell out a few bucks just for this craze?

You should be ready to compromise on a lot of things, and strike a balance between LOOKS and FUNCTIONALITY, and you will have to find this very fine line in YOUR pc system by YOURSELF. all we can do is make suggestions or recommendations, based on OUR own experience in OUR systems...Now

Flyakite

-it isn't really bulky per se, it just replaces system shell resources to have that mac look. you can without it really, but then you have to install other programs just to make changes to your shell resources. FAK just automates the whole process.

-You can control what it does to your system. Go to //windows/FlyakiteOSX/. check out the folders...

Objectbar

-you really have to decide which is your preference, win taskbar/start menu or objectbar?. btw you can also use both, OB on top, taskbar on bottom. for me, OB and a dock is better.

-those useless options/shortcuts in the menus you can edit/delete/replace. right click on the bar, then properties, then do your thing...those 'useless' shortcuts are what you'll find on a mac. if you can configure to point to shortcuts of scripts, i guess you can make them work.

-OB can recognize active window, and show the menus on the bar. right click on bar-properties- on the left side panel titled docked bars, click on 'Menu". then on the right side, click on Behavior tab. tick off Special Functionality...

-a note on some applications: some programs have conflicts with OB. You can put them on the Exclusion List

RK launcher

there is a sub-forum or stickie here on AS regarding your issues

Miscellaneous

-removing menu bars of other apps- same as recognizing Active Window...

-ShellWM, Styler, Y'z shadow etc. these are third party free apps developed some years back. some have stopped development so expect bugs/conflicts with your system. Others found a way to make them work specific to THEIR systems.

I guess you have all the basic apps for your 'project'. you can also add StacksDocklet and/or KKmenu...

and Rather than ask general questions about anything, i suggest you ask specific questions for specific problems/issues for specific programs. so we can give you specific answers...

#494490

Sorry mate, but this topic has in my opinion been discussed numerous times.

The bottom line is that the PC will never be a Mac, but the main software elements utilised for the core emulation base are astonishingly good - and at this stage, about the best you are going to get...

I have discussed the issue of emulation before and the fact that is is a highly subjective thing. Remember that although the system might look like a Mac, the illusion is lost the moment you open an app or use the dock (the reflections don't work properly - although this is being addressed by some of the developers here). Also, there are members here who go mad just because the styler bar is not quite right (ignoring the fact that you can't use coverflow or columns) and others moan because the Stacks docklet is not doing what they want it to do...

Other people are not as fussed about little details so all in all, its a compromise all round.

In my opinion, the biggest risk to your system is not necessarily because of the software (OB, styler, WB etc. etc.) but because people who emulate strive for a better solution and the mere act of installing a little app here and then another app there then uninstalling and trying something else, is murder on your system and your reg file - because of the thousands of redundant elements that end up floating around your system after numerous installations and trials.

Another factor is one nobody has any control over and that is the dreaded system updates. From time to time there are software updates (iTunes, WIN etc) that cause further havoc - rendering previously stable apps grumpy as all hell. Here too, it takes tons of patience and a lot of work by the developers and also the users who want to keep their system stable and up to date if they are heavily into emulation.

I guess it all comes down to what floats your boat. I am primarily a Mac user but I also need to work on some of the PC's in my production facility from time to time. I have full Leopard emulation running on two of those machines - both the latest hardware but running XP(Pro) - and I have set them up like this because I just like a familiar environment to work in...

It will never be the same as the Mac's I own, but its close enough for me to work comfortably and quickly, and the irony is that other Mac users have never questioned what OS they are running (although if they looked closely they would see clearly that they are emulated).

If I could make a suggestion to the emulators out there, it would be this: Just ENJOY the challenge of creating a good emulation. Don't become consumed by it because there is a ton of fun to be had. Failing this, I'm afraid the only other solution is to (yes) buy a Mac....

Good luck ....

Oh... and by the way... the Mac can have plenty of annoying issues in its own right...

#494491

First of all i would like to clarify that i am new to all of this Mac

- Flyakite-

o Now I like this program but i feel like it is very bulky and I could do a better job customizing

things without it. Is it really necessary?

o I also feel like i have no control over what it does to my system is there any way to control

this? is there some kind of control panel or settings for this program? (I couldn't find one)

The Flyakite control panel is inside it's setup application. The installer allows you to fine tune what it puts on your system, down to the individual dlls it replaces. That said, FAK is not a "program", it's a collection of other programs as well as patched dll files that it installs in an automated manner. Patching dlls doesn't add to cpu/resource usage (some mem, though) but if you install all the 3rd party apps that come with, you are going to notice some bulk.

-ObjectBar-

o I believe the menu bar on the MAC is one of its best features, the Objectbar does an amazing

job of emulating the menu bar but i feel that it conflicts with the Windows Taskbar too much.

*-* I tried Finderbar and i liked how it molded with Window's Taskbar and didn't replace it.

But it doesn't support active window control with it's menu, is there an alternative to

Objectbar that incorporates the taskbar, and allows for active window control?

o I also noticed there was a lot of useless optionstoolsshortcuts utilized on the bar. Is there a

way to make everything work?

o I had trouble getting the active window to show up on the Objectbar, how do you utilize this

feature? is there a way to replace application's menus??

o An advanced tutorial, or just any kind of tutorial, on this program would be a godsend

anybody have a link to this or even know of one?

What Kinsemon said.

Most people use OB and a dock, disabling the taskbar completely.

Search "Objectbar Bible" over at the osx-e forums (sig).

-Miscellaneous Questions-

o I have used MSS styles to alter the appearance of my windows, but i recently found ShellWM but

it freezes up when i try to load a skin, is there a program in specific that would interfere with

this?

You might want to try WindowBlinds (not free) or stick with msstyles. ShellWM is kind of outdated and too little in use. If you continue with ShellWM, you might want to disable the Windows Themes service.

The bottom line is that the PC will never be a Mac, but the main software elements utilised for the core emulation base are astonishingly good - and at this stage, about the best you are going to get.........If I could make a suggestion to the emulators out there, it would be this: Just ENJOY the challenge of creating a good emulation. Don't become consumed by it because there is a ton of fun to be had. Failing this, I'm afraid the only other solution is to (yes) buy a Mac....

QFT.

#494580