Make linux look like OSX?

Cheetah Designs · 2 Apr 2012 at 11:29

Huw said:
Have you tried the Gnome 3 desktop? I'm not a huge fan but it certainly looks the part.

I have - it didn't look great in my opinion....I can't put my finger on it but everything linux I've seen just looks "off"....maybe because I am so used to Windows/OSX?

Is it possible to get a global menu on Gnome 3?

SMN said:
Ugh... why take Linux and it make it look like OSX, just get OSX.

Because I like linux but I like the look of OSX? Pretty simple really.

Huw · 2 Apr 2012 at 11:38

Cheetah Designs said:
Is it possible to get a global menu on Gnome 3?

I would've thought so. Check out Gnome Shell Extensions. There's bound to be something there.

SMN · 2 Apr 2012 at 11:45

http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/fakeosx?content=149052

Cheetah Designs · 2 Apr 2012 at 12:03

Gnome 3 could be what I am after if I find the right theme for it.

From googling there isn't a global menu which is a real shame.

Couple of things:
- How can I change the fonts used in the Gnome bar at the top and the activities panel. I do have gnome-tweak package but it doesn't give me enough "power" to change it.
- Is it possible to add and remove things from the bar at the top/move them around?

Cheetah Designs · 2 Apr 2012 at 12:03

SMN said:
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/fakeosx?content=149052

That looks truly awful...if that is what people think OSX looks like, I am not surprised you are discouraging me from making linux look like it

SMN · 2 Apr 2012 at 12:09

The beauty of linux is you can make it into whatever you want. I personally hate (in any scenario) buying one thing because it looks like another, or using it etc.

What about Linux do you like that you cant do in OSX?

Cheetah Designs · 2 Apr 2012 at 12:11

SMN said:
The beauty of linux is you can make it into whatever you want. I personally hate (in any scenario) buying one thing because it looks like another, or using it etc.

What about Linux do you like that you cant do in OSX?

The big tomali for me is decent inbuilt software for mounting sshfs or ftp in the native file manager....but that's just one of many things.

(BTW: you can do that in OSX, I just haven't found a really "nice" and reliable way of doing it)

Subliminal Aura · 2 Apr 2012 at 12:15

PingEEE 11.04 with Awoken theme ...

I should really youtube usage of my notepad because everywhere I go... I get mac users ask me so many questions about it.

Basically usage is just like a mac. I have the hot corners/windows key to scale all open windows. Control - windows opens up the linux search menu. This is more mac than apple could ever be

whitecrook · 2 Apr 2012 at 12:18

You can make it look like OSX fairly easily, but the beauty of OSX is the way it works, the interaction, the complete integration. You can't get this on Linux. You are best of making your Linux install behave and look like linux. Or just buy a mac. Or make a hackintosh.

Subliminal Aura · 2 Apr 2012 at 15:54

whitecrook said:
You can make it look like OSX fairly easily, but the beauty of OSX is the way it works, the interaction, the complete integration. You can't get this on Linux

ROFL ... You've obviously not tried it have you ?

I've got osx86 installed and have a mac but nothing beats gnome 2 / compiz compositing when it's correctly set up ... As I said... It makes veteran mac users cry when they see it in action.

Huw · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:01

Yeah I can't agree with that statement either. Thanks to the magic of DBUS (among other things, I imagine) there is plenty of integration in both Gnome and KDE. In fact they're both really good at it.

whitecrook · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:15

Subliminal Aura said:
ROFL ... You've obviously not tried it have you ?

I've got osx86 installed and have a mac but nothing beats gnome 2 / compiz compositing when it's correctly set up ... As I said... It makes veteran mac users cry when they see it in action.

LOL. I know what you are talking about, I was doing it years ago.

Compiz etc works fantastically, and smokes even Expose etc.. but you've missed my point. (and expose smoke mission control, but that's another thread)

Where is the fully integrated drag and drop?
Where is the drag and drop 'Applications' directory?
Where is the concept of the App window and the document window?
Where is the dock, that actually works like OSX dock, and not just looks like it? (Windowmaker ha)
Where is photoshop/protools etc for Linux?

Macs use a fundamentally different metaphorical concept when comparing e.g. finder and explorer or, ... what is it you use? Gnautilus maybe?

I actually used macs way before I first used gnome, but when I did use gnome I realised where there influences came from, and it's nice, but it's not mac, even if it looks like it.

Subliminal Aura · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:21

I've taken this screenshot for your benefit

http://i.imgur.com/aTJtj.jpg

whitecrook · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:23

that tells me nothing. I've already said it's easy to make it LOOK like OSX, but the mechanics, and how OSX works, is harder to emulate.

Subliminal Aura · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:26

whitecrook said:
that tells me nothing. I've already said it's easy to make it LOOK like OSX, but the mechanics, and how OSX works, is harder to emulate.

Really ?... Everything you mentioned is there including Indexed search, web and even suggested application installs. OSX doesn't go that far

I suggest you RTFM

whitecrook · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:30

No. You are missing my point. It's not what it HAS or what it LOOKS like. It's how it works, and how it interacts with the user, and other resources. And on closer inspection, that screen shot only has a passing similarity to OSX, Check the window decorations for a start.

The closest thing you'll get to Mac style app bundles is 0install (zeroconf) Check it out. Nifty, but not in anyway a replacement or substitute for a mac appstack. But gives the same result, just not in the same way, which is my point.

Subliminal Aura · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:49

whitecrook said:
No. You are missing my point. It's not what it HAS or what it LOOKS like. It's how it works, and how it interacts with the user, and other resources.

Yes it works just like a mac, if not better ... everything is exactly the same except for drag n drop app installation. Even then it's painless to uninstall apps ... Speaking in your lingo... I would use spotlight to highlight an app and just uninstall it from there. I personally can't remember the last time I used a menu driven navigation system.

Seriously, stop being narrow minded and spend some time to try it

whitecrook · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:51

Subliminal Aura said:
Yes it works just like a mac, if not better ... everything is exactly the same except for drag n drop app installation. Even then it's painless to uninstall apps ... Speaking in your lingo... I would use spotlight to highlight an app and just uninstall it from there. I personally can't remember the last time I used a menu driven navigation system.

Seriously, stop being narrow minded and spend some time to try it

I spent far too long trying it. That's why i bought an actual mac 2 years ago and never looked back. I want to use my computer, not mess about trying to configure it for ever more.

Huw · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:51

whitecrook said:
No. You are missing my point.

I guess I'm missing your point too. Obviously no Linux distro is going to behave exactly like OSX because they're two different operating systems. But what Subliminal and I have taken exception to is your statement:

but the beauty of OSX is the way it works, the interaction, the complete integration. You can't get this on Linux.

What do you mean by this exactly? If you mean Linux can't be made to work exactly like OSX, then...well, yeah! You can't get OSX to behave exactly like Linux either. Or Windows. Or bloody Plan 9!

But if you mean Linux can't provide an integrated desktop and user experience, that's where you're wrong.

whitecrook · 2 Apr 2012 at 16:54

Huw said:
I guess I'm missing your point too. Obviously no Linux distro is going to behave exactly like OSX because they're two different operating systems. But what Subliminal and I have taken exception to is your statement:

What do you mean by this exactly? If you mean Linux can't be made to work exactly like OSX, then...well, yeah! You can't get OSX to behave exactly like Linux either. Or Windows. Or bloody Plan 9!

But if you mean Linux can't provide an integrated desktop and user experience, that's where you're wrong.

Well yes. exactly. Of course linux (more specifically, some kind of DE ontop of linux) can provide a nice integrated experience, KDE used to be very good at this, but it in no way worked or emulated how a mac done it. It done it it's own way.

Long story short- if you want macosx, get a mac. (or build a hackintosh) Use linux of you don't want to do that, but as you say you cant make it behave like a mac, the fundamental concepts are too different.