i) It can be switched of from System preferences.
ii) REALLY does improve focus with windows. Try a program called Menushade.
iii) Vistaness becomes from huge blurry borders, which is complitely opposote of Leopard where there is no borders at all. Tiger still has some with Brushed Metal apps.

Reply

I heard people are questioning this move, but the few people who have actually used it have actually ended up liking it. Don't bash it until you actually use it.

Reply

Geez... is this Cry-more-Sunday? Ever think that Apple might have this as an option along with the "classic" menu bar in Sys Prefs? Or that the solid Menu Bar leaves a nice screen burn-in, even on LCDs? Or that you're bitching about a BETA product still months away from going gold?

Does the TUAW weekend staff consist of goth kids pissed off that Hot Topic won't accept their mom's credit card without her being present?

Reply

Whatever. It's a friggin' menubar. Get over it already. Why does everyone always have to pick on the smallest most insignificant thing and blow it up into a federal case? Do you know how ridiculous you sound to 99% of the computer buying public when you say you wont buy an OS because you don't like the look of it's menu bar? This is why windows users think we are crazy.

Reply

This post is just your opinion, some people may actually like the new menubar.

Reply

I quite like it to be honest. It could be a little less translucent so it's easier to read the menu items, but overall I like it.

Reply

I quite like it. It's obvious they took the idea from Vista which I thought was interesting yet kind of a shame. Reminded me that Apple are really watching Microsoft closely.

However I think it's ridiculous that the look of the menubar is so important to you. It is an operating system. If the appearance of a small transparent strip at the top of the screen can put you off buying the whole OS altogether I think you are an idiot.

Reply

Try this with MenuShade first, it is realy cool, after a while you get really really used to it.
It let's you focus on your programms and windows and after switching back the Tiger one looks too bright.
If it works great and it has similarities with vista, who cares.

Here's to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect of the Status Quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
But the only thing you can't do, is ignore them.
Because they change things. They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones. We see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world.
Are the ones who do.

Reply

is that what it really look like? the drop-downs arent transparent? I was hoping it would look like PhotoPro... but that... oh dear...

Reply

now what about the dock? that's what I call ugly!
i hope it can be change also!

Reply

Yea, I find it crappy too... but hey, apple could throw us a polished turd and there would still be a ton of people who would love it.

Reply

No, there currently (in the WWDC seed) isn't a a way to turn of the transparent menu bar. I'm using the seed and Apple has not (yet) put a hook in to it to allow it to be changed. There is probably a way to change it via the terminal (defaults write menubar... something or other), but that hasn't surfaced yet.

The good news is that during a Leopard UI session at WWDC, the presenter mentioned that he had gotten a lot of feedback on the new menubar (the insinuation is that it wasn't positive). I believe there will be a preference to adjust it in the final build.

And if there isn't, I expect someone to introduce a hack that will do it.

Personally, I'm not crazy about it, but it isn't so bothersome that I've abandoned using my Leopard seed.

Reply

Joe Bella - Exactly what I thought.

I like macs, but hate the whole mac fanboy thing.

I wish people would stop bashing other OS's just because they think their own OS is better. Windows, Linux, and Mac OS all have their own advantages and disadvantages. I can happily use all three. I don't need to go around saying Vista is "literally dizzying" because they use transparent window borders.

Reply

I can't believe that this was a post, there has to be something better to write about.

Reply

I agree that the menu bar shouldn't be too transparent - or it makes the type hard to read! Owning an Apple is about functionality and ease of use, right?

Perhaps Apple could change it so that the menu bar is very transparent, BUT becomes more opaque when your cursor hovers over it - making it easier to read when you need it.

Kind of like how the window buttons have X - + appear when you hover over them.

Reply

Dude, what the F*** is your problem? Can't you at least wait till you actually use the OS before you bash things in it as "hideous." All these people complaining about the menu bar and the dock should really think about the fact that every time there's a UI change, there will have to be some adjustment. So, at least try it before you write what IMHO is a childish entry.

Reply

Probably a little kid running the Leopard Show now. When a menu bar is as important as it is in OS X why do this and to even mention this as one of the new features.... What about Menu Meters and all of the Menubar Items... what were they thinking. Also a 3D dock that does nothing new is not a feature. If the Dock Rotated to reveal new app's now that would be something. But Apple is to pre-occupied with the OTHER side of Apple Computer.....Apple Inc.

Reply

This is a non-problem. If you don't like the transparent menu bar, just make your own desktop image with a white bar at the top where the menu is. No system hacks required.

Reply

I agree with you 100%. If you see the Keynote, you'll notice that people laugh after Steve shows the new desktop. kinda expecting it was a Windows Vista joke.

I find the menu bar terrible in its gui principles. But the new 3D Dock is just fugly.

Reply

Transparent menu bar does sound rather stupid, but I'm sure it's going to be a setting to adjust this, and if not there will be a ton of utilities to fix it. And perhaps it's something you'll grow to like.

Reply