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Transform Windows 8 into Mac OS X

Melanie Gross
Jul 28, 2012
Updated • Feb 15, 2014
Software, Windows, Windows 8
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13

Don't like the way how Windows 8 is shaping out to look like when it is released? Prefer the look and feel of Apple's Mac OS X operating system? Then you may be interested in the Mountion Lion Skin Pack for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview which changes the interface of the operating system significantly.  The developer has promised to release an update once Windows 8 final is released by Microsoft so that this should not be of concern right now when installing the skin pack.

What makes this total conversion interesting is that it does not require you to patch system files by yourself or to prepare the operating system in another way. The Mountain Lion skin pack comes with a single installer for 32-bit or 64-bit editions of Windows that will do all the installing and configuring for you.

The full download has a size of about 35 Megabytes and you need to know that some of the programs that it will install require the Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0. This should not be an issue though as support for it is integrated natively into Windows 8. You should pay attention to the installation process as you may end up otherwise with the Babylon Toolbar. The rest of the installation is straightforward and very comfortable. Just follow the installation instructions and restart the computer afterwards.

The installer gives you the option to uncheck third party programs from being installed. For the best user experience it is however suggested to keep the default configuration. You end up with more than ten different programs, including popular applications such as Rocket Dock, Xwidget or Moveex.

The log in screen looks identical, but the rest of the operating system will look more or less like a copy of the Mac OS X Mountain Lion operating system.

mac os x skin pack

If you are used to work with Mac OS X you will probably feel right at home. Pure Windows users on the other hand may need some time getting used to the skin as it changes several interface elements significantly. The Windows taskbar for instance is moved to the top of the screen, while the dock is listed at the bottom of the screen.

You can uninstall the Mac OS X skin pack like any other application on the system, and you end up with pretty much the same system as before. When I uninstalled the skin pack, only the top position of the Windows Taskbar was not changed by the process, but it took less than ten seconds to move it back into its bottom position.

The Mountain Lion theme for Windows 8 may not be after everyone's liking, but those who want to give it a try benefit from the straightforward installation and uninstallation of the total conversion.

If you ask me, I'm not a fan of total conversions as they are never as good as the original. I had a few usability issues when I tested it and decided to uninstall it rather quickly again.

Update: The Mac OS X theme for Windows 8 appears to be no longer available. You can use alternative themes such as the Mac theme for Windows 8, or the Mac Light theme for Windows 8.

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Comments

  1. hamed said on February 15, 2014 at 9:53 pm
    Reply
  2. Numan said on June 15, 2013 at 9:49 pm
    Reply

    it is still not working

  3. shailesh said on March 30, 2013 at 1:41 pm
    Reply

    link ‘http://www.skinpacks.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=37’ not working…….

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on March 30, 2013 at 3:21 pm
      Reply

      Fixed, new link added.

  4. Atticus said on August 2, 2012 at 1:31 pm
    Reply

    77 degrees celsius!?! (see screenshot) Dayum it’s hot where you are!!!

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 2, 2012 at 2:32 pm
      Reply

      Yeah it is pretty hot here ;)

  5. Giulio said on July 29, 2012 at 4:01 pm
    Reply

    Ugly.

  6. Whino said on July 29, 2012 at 9:37 am
    Reply

    Dare I ask if the ugly toolbar/icon overlap in the top left is present in the latest release?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on July 29, 2012 at 10:26 am
      Reply

      If you mean the title overlap then yes, it is still present.

  7. bollyrhymes said on July 29, 2012 at 6:27 am
    Reply

    Sorry but where is the link to the transformation pack?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on July 29, 2012 at 10:24 am
      Reply

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