This is a freeware Windows 95 color scheme for Kaleidoscope. I originally designed this for myself, and figured some other people might get a kick out of it. Remember that Kaleidoscope is still shareware, and costs $20 to register. Please note that, although this color scheme is free for you to use and hack, if you plan on releasing a hacked version, even just a beta to some friends on a mailing list, please ask me first. It's common courtesy. Thank you.
I would also like to thank those of you who have written to me about this scheme (and my other scheme, Copland 7 - a System 7-heavy interface, designed with Mac OS 8 enhancements like Accent Colors, Windowshade, Mac OS 8-style Window borders, etc. - get it at my Web site: http://www.stealth.net/~asimov/k.html). Hearing stories about how you fool your Mac and Windows loving friends, use this scheme at Mac User Groups, and use the scheme to help train Windows vets to use a Mac, and to prepare Mac vets for the Wintel world, all give me a great deal of satisfaction. I appreciate any and all feedback.
New in version 1.7.1:
The scheme went through a major overhaul - every resource was opened, examined closely, tweaked a bit here, a bit there, and ended up staying the same as version 1.6 in many cases. However, so as not to disappoint, I did manage to tweak the Finder windows just enough to make them look even more like Windows 95. Some alert and dialog background colors were altered slightly, and I changed the windoid widgets, making them more like those on Windows 95. I added the mixed state checkbox and radio buttons*, added support for the "barber poles" (progress bars that don't have an exact "progress" to report) and added a couple of resources for better compatibility with more recent versions of Kaleidoscope. Also, not every resource got left exactly as it was, so I suppose I could say there were numerous "tweaks" to enhance the illusion.
* Supported in Kaleidoscope 1.7.x - and probably higher, but you should check the Kaleidoscope Web site at http://www.kaleidoscope.net/ for the latest version, and compatibility/legacy information.
This scheme will work properly with any version of Kaleidoscope from 1.5 - 1.7.1, but it is optimized for 1.7.1. Support for future verisons of Kaleidoscope is not yet known. Check the Kaleidoscope Web site for details. This should work properly under System 7.x and Mac OS 8.
New in version 1.6:
Version 1.6 is now compatible with GoMac. The Windows 95-style task bar drawn by GoMac now uses the same background and highlight colors that Windows 95 does. (for a more realistic look to the scheme, of course!)
The alert icons all match those of Windows 95 almost pixel for pixel.
Pushed buttons have a gray rectangular box appear around the text. It's not exactly like Windows 95, but it's about as close as Kaleidoscope and the Mac OS will allow, and it looks pretty cool :-)
Some window and dialog box colors have been slightly tweaked for a more realistic look.
All Finder icons replaced by the Kaleidoscope control Panel are replaced with Windows 95 style icons.
In Finder list views, the 3D arrows are replaced with Windows 95 style plus and minus signs in square boxes. These look cool unless you have "Colorize Finder Windows" set and/or if the folder uses a Label color..
Tweaked a pixel here, a pixel there. You know... "for a more realistic look" :-)
Version 1.6 no longer includes the separate icons. If you would like the extra icons, send me an email, and I'll get them to you somehow.
New in version 1.5:
The scheme is now compatible with Kaleidoscope 1.5.x. This version adds a whole slew of new features and enhancements. Window title bars and borders, scroll bars, buttons and default button rings all take on a closer resemblence to a those of Windows 95. Added a few new System icons (open your system folder and fonts folder most notably). Pull-down selection windows, checkboxes and radio buttons all get a face lift and now match those of Windows 95 almost pixel for pixel. I have also included a couple of new icons in the collection of extra icons.
To install:
• Drop the "Windows 95" icon into the "Kaleidoscope Color Schemes" folder, which is located inside your "Extensions" folder in your "System folder".
• Open Kaleidoscope (from the "Control Panels" folder).
• Select "Windows 95" from the list of available color schemes.
• Restart your computer. (The color scheme provides alternate icons for your default folders, System folder, and other System folder icons. These change completely only after restart. If you restart with another color scheme active, the regular icons will reappear.)
What the color scheme does:
• Changes your windows, menu bar, menu colors, scroll bars, scroll thumbs, arrows, progress bars, buttons, checkboxes and radio buttons to match those of Microsoft's Windows 95 Operating System.
• Changes icons of the System folder (and many icons inside the System folder), as well as the default folder icon, to match those of Windows 95, or, in some cases, combine the Windows 95 folder icon with the Mac OS custom System folder icons. You must restart with Windows 95 as the currect color scheme for the icons to change.
• Changes the Trash icon (empty and full) to a Windows 95 "Recycle Bin". (does not change the name from "Trash", though)
• Replaces the Apple Menu icon with a Windows 95 logo.
• Changes the "close", "resize" and "window shade" widgets (on top of all windows) to match the "close", "resize" and "minimize" widgets found on Windows 95. These widgets are rearranged to match the functionality of a Macintosh with the look of Windows 95. The "close" button, a black X on a grey box, is where a normal Macintosh "close" button is located, in the upper left corner. In Windows 95, the "close" button is in the upper right-hand corner. If you use both operating systems, just try to remember that you are on a Macintosh, and you'll automatically go for the left corner. :)
* Changes the 3D arrows in Finder list views to match the plus and minus signs in Windows 95.
* Note: Some of these features are not yet available for Mac OS 8 users. Check future releases of Kaleidoscope for support of these features (and of course, check my Web site for upgrades of this color scheme!)
What it doesn't do:
• Run Windows applications.
• Slow down your computer.
• Crash repeatedly.
Feedback:
Hey, Scott... this color scheme rocks, dude!
or
Hey Scott... how much time did you waste on this pointless, useless, piece of crap? (answer: much more than I should have, although feedback from you guys has really been encouraging. Thanks for writing!)
Please email me and let me know what you think!
Scott Naness
Staten Island, NY
asimov@stealth.net
I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it! :)
Windows, Windows 95, Windows 95 icons and the Windows 95 logo are all copyrights of Microsoft Corp.
