 WinMac: A Guide |
|
(circa 2000)
What is WinMac?  Who is behind this project? After using Windows for over six months, and being unable to locate any programs to give it a more Macintosh friendly look, Ritchie Chow set out to create one himself. Version 1.0 of WinMac, nothing more than a blank bar, was released on March 14, 1996. Chow added menu features shortly after the initial release. On June 6, 1996, Chow added the Mac OS 8 style menu bar, almost a full year before the release of OS 8. His final version of WinMac (3.02) was released on July 7, 1996. At this time, he chose to concentrate on his job as an auditor, and discontinued work on WinMac. He began distributing the source code to interested developers, but received no signs of serious support. With Chow ignoring the program, and no other users stepping forward to help out, development of WinMac came to a complete halt. After more than a year of no development whatsoever, near the end of 1997, user Mike Mallory contacted Chow. "Basically I told him that WinMac's a really nice program, but that it seemed that he stopped working on it. So I told him, if so, I'd be happy to continue working on it. Much to my surprise, he agreed."  "So I began work." Mallory began his work on WinMac with small goals in mind, fixing some bugs that later versions of Windows had introduced. When these were corrected, he began fine tuning some of the features in the two existing bars (the old System 7.X, and OS 8), and adding some of his own. On May 13 of this year, Version 3.70 of Mallory's WinMac included his first major addition to the program: a MacOS X (Aqua) bar. This was the second time WinMac released a Windows version of the menu bar before the release of the actual MacOS it was taken from. He has since done some serious work on the Aqua bar, with updates coming out on a weekly basis. What will we see from WinMac in the future? The WinMac homepage lists numerous additions that were planned more than a year ago. The list has not been updated since then, but fortunately Mallory has revealed some information on WinMac's future. First on Mallory's mind is a conversion of WinMac to C++. The program is currently written in Visual Basic 5. The use of Visual Basic limits future developments of WinMac quite a bit, so Mallory intends to carry out the conversion in the very near future. Use of C++ could make it possible to turn WinMac into a complete explorer.exe replacement. Much like MacVision, this would then open the door to creating a more complete Macintosh environment in Windows. This is what Chow envisioned when he created the application. Emulation of Mac OS 8.5/8.6 and 9.0 menu bars is also planned, but because this would require placing the name and icon of the current application in the top right corner of the menu to be done right, Mallory plans to add these additions after the C++ conversion. Also dependant on C++ conversion is Mallory's most novel idea: transparent emulation. However, he does not believe this will be started "anytime soon," if at all. With version number 4.0 closing in, Mallory has been holding off on finalizing it. The delay is due to a desire to release his next "big" addition with the even version number. Details of the addition can not be released at this time, but they certainly are "big," and may allow WinMac to rival the stalling MacVision.  What else can I do? There is a lot you can do to capture the elegant Macintosh look in Windows. The most complete is the aforementioned MacVision total shell replacement. Mackinaw (link below) is the home of a half dozen files that will give Windows a comfortable Macintosh look. This includes icon, cursor, font and wallpaper replacements. Virtual Plastic has put together an in depth round up of everything you can do to give Windows a Macintosh feel. This site is highly recommended. Emulation is the best, but most difficult means of escaping the world of Windows. For more information on the world of Macintosh emulation, visit either E-Maculation, or The Macintosh Emulation Station. Updates - January 2001 In the more than half year since the writing of this article, some significant changes to WinMac have occured. The program now sits at version 4.40 (as of January 7, 2001). The OS X Aqua view has been improved greatly, and OS X Server view is now available. Additionally, an OS 8.5/9.0 option is also available. The Visual Basic to C++ conversion is still a priority to Mallory, as is the option of utilizing the design of older MacOS toolbars. As now noted in the body of this article, MacVision is now known as ObjectBar. It has been greatly enhanced and is available commercially via StarDock (link below). Links WinMac - Mike Mallory WinMac - Ritchie Chow Mac Vision - Jeff Bargmann ObjectBar - StarDock Mackinaw The Macintosh Emulation Station - Jim Watters E-Maculation Article at Virtual Plastic |