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> As amazing as OSX seemed when it was launched This reminds me: There was pretty interesting community of Linux users customizing X11 desktops in the late 90s

> As amazing as OSX seemed when it was launched This reminds me: There was pretty interesting community of Linux users customizing X11 desktops in the late 90s and the very early 2000s... When the first screenshots and demos of OS X and Aqua came out, almost immediately, people tried to imitate that.

rzzzt 4y ago
I remember WindowBlinds and an MP3 utility (but just vaguely) that used a theme similar to Aqua on Windows.
- stuaxo 4y ago
  There were/are Winamp themes that looked like Aqua.
Joeri 4y ago
The frustrating part is that OS X was NeXTStep under the covers, and that had the late 90’s look down better than any OS. http://toastytech.com/guis/ns332.html http://toastytech.com/guis/ns332.html I ran windowmaker on my linux systems around 2000 to get that same look, but I had serious NeXT envy.
- asveikau 4y ago
  I liked NeXT and GNUstep in those days too. I'm not sure they had it literally "better" than everybody else, but they certainly had something unique, well executed, etc. You can still recognize NeXT patterns in modern Mac GUIs. They're usually not surface level anymore.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 4y ago
  Still upset that I don't live in the timeline where GNUStep/Windowmaker became the defacto DE for Linux.
- bitwize 4y ago
  Oh, man, NeXTstep was an amazing UI, easily the best in the Unix world. Still a disaster compared to System 7, 8, or 9.
- 1ko 4y ago
  I feel like BeOS was even cleaner. And it made my old PC feel really snappier than win98. https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/beos-1.1d6_From_bear.jpg https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/beos-1....
ilyt 4y ago
Yeah I remember when putting your desktops on a cube and spinning it around was a thing. Compositors also had a bunch of weird and interesting effects. It started as apple's knockoff but quickly spun out of control with amount of stuff you could setup with compiz/beryl. Then people figure out most of it while very cool is not all that practical.

rzzzt 4y ago

I remember WindowBlinds and an MP3 utility (but just vaguely) that used a theme similar to Aqua on Windows.

stuaxo 4y ago
There were/are Winamp themes that looked like Aqua.

Joeri 4y ago

The frustrating part is that OS X was NeXTStep under the covers, and that had the late 90’s look down better than any OS. http://toastytech.com/guis/ns332.html http://toastytech.com/guis/ns332.html I ran windowmaker on my linux systems around 2000 to get that same look, but I had serious NeXT envy.

asveikau 4y ago
I liked NeXT and GNUstep in those days too. I'm not sure they had it literally "better" than everybody else, but they certainly had something unique, well executed, etc. You can still recognize NeXT patterns in modern Mac GUIs. They're usually not surface level anymore.
AnIdiotOnTheNet 4y ago
Still upset that I don't live in the timeline where GNUStep/Windowmaker became the defacto DE for Linux.
bitwize 4y ago
Oh, man, NeXTstep was an amazing UI, easily the best in the Unix world. Still a disaster compared to System 7, 8, or 9.
1ko 4y ago
I feel like BeOS was even cleaner. And it made my old PC feel really snappier than win98. https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/beos-1.1d6_From_bear.jpg https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/beos-1....

ilyt 4y ago

Yeah I remember when putting your desktops on a cube and spinning it around was a thing. Compositors also had a bunch of weird and interesting effects. It started as apple's knockoff but quickly spun out of control with amount of stuff you could setup with compiz/beryl. Then people figure out most of it while very cool is not all that practical.