Poll: Do you prefer Aqua or Metal?

[MacRumors]

Vote: Poll: Do you prefer Aqua or Metal? (http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=154&ref=forums.macrumors.com)

[vniow]

Depends on the app, some look ok in brushed metal while others look like crap but if I had to choose between the two, I'd go for Aqua, brushed metal looks cheesy a lot of the time.

[howard]

Originally posted by vniow
Depends on the app, some look ok in brushed metal while others look like crap but if I had to choose between the two, I'd go for Aqua, brushed metal looks cheesy a lot of the time.

totally agree with that

[Wonder Boy]

If the rumors are true, I'm not buying the all metal Panther. I think it looks cheap.

[shadowfax]

i prefer the aforementioned zen of both.
(i just did that to say zen of course ;))
given the forced choice, i'd say aqua. metal is just too dark for a total theme.

[melchior]

i dislike both of them. but i dislike metal more!

skinning is necessary. damned strips and baby blue =P if apple loves the white, they should have a white skin. (i.e. max's milk skin)

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by melchior
i dislike both of them. but i dislike metal more!

skinning is necessary. damned strips and baby blue =P if apple loves the white, they should have a white skin. (i.e. max's milk skin)

i think it's gray and white on that halftone. you may be seeing baby blue because of your color settings though, or it could just look that way to you. i don't like the long stretches of white, i think the halftone breaks the monotony, personally.

[theaz]

I agree with vniow

One major advantage of the Metal interface that I never see mention made towards, is that it offers higher contrast. UI elements do not get lost in the overall appearance (eg not white on pin stripe white, but rather white on brushed grey). IMHO this makes the metal appearance more user friendly. If only its glossy aesthetics were always as good.

[Snowy_River]

I've found that I've started to get fond of the brushed metal. The one issue I have with it is that cocoa apps that use it don't have any of the usual Close/Minimize/Maximize buttons. However, despite that, I've chosen to metalize Mail.app and Camino. I find that it's not bad looking.

Though, I must say, I do hope that they aren't actually going to metalize the Finder. That would be over bearing. Even though I'm not fond of the generic Aqua (I changed my theme long ago - first to the Graphite color scheme, then to an entirely different theme), it remains a far better fit for the UI at the Finder level.

[alset]

Everyone has made good points, so I won't rehash them. I lean on the the Aqua side of the fence. Metal all over would make my head hurt.

Dan

[Freg3000]

I used to think that Apple should just pick one and stick with it. But now I like having both.

[jkojima]

I think in Panther it should be left to the user to be able to choose an overall theme for the OS, much like you can in Windows.

So if you like metal, go with metal... like aqua, go with aqua.

Personally, one of the reasons I recently switched from Windows to the Mac was because I digged the look of the aqua interface (I'm not joking). I hope Apple doesn't completely nix it... the metal looks so basic and utilitarian to me. Like Windows.

My 2cents worth.

[AlphaTech]

Being color blind, I prefer metal since I KNOW what the colors are. Besides, I've always been into metal more then water/aqua... ;) Maybe that's part of why I am always thinking of what new chrome item I can add to my Harley, or metal item for my truck. Latest addition for the truck was a diamond plate tailgate protector (covers the entire inside of the tailgate as well as the top edge). I need to get the bulkhead piece next, once I have steady income again (or my floundering business deal goes through).

I'd like to see them offer more metal color schemes... maybe gunmetal, chrome, and polished metal options could be added. That way, you can choose which one you like the most.

As for an overall theme, I'd use metal every time if I had to choose between that and aqua. I'd like it if software companies would give you options inside their preferences for which skin the application used.

Just my 10¢ worth. :p

A

[uhlawboi80]

i like the metal. i wish the finder bar was metal with a cool white apple logo! i dont think i would mind if it went all metal.

It actually kinda annoys me that the look of the windows isnt uniform. either way id prefer just one to be selected and used across the board for all my Apps.

[AllenPSU]

After coming home from the WINDOWS environment, anything is a welcome sight. I've really liked the AQUA look and to be honest I don't even know what METAL looks like. How does everyone know what it looks like?

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by AllenPSU
After coming home from the WINDOWS environment, anything is a welcome sight. I've really liked the AQUA look and to be honest I don't even know what METAL looks like. How does everyone know what it looks like?

The metal effect is essentially brushed metal. I think most people, who haven't been living inside of a cave for the past 100 years, knows what that looks like.

I worked with metal for a time, so I have hands on experience with the look, and how it is accomplished.

[bennetsaysargh]

i think that only certain apps should be metal or aqua. i don't know which i like nor dislike, but i know that i might wanna see some apps with something besides either.

[Hmm]

I like metal because it's like 3-D without the glasses.

[yzedf]

i prefer aqua

the only thing i like in metal is when iTunes is playing a song and is shrunk to the tiny little window with play/stop song name stuff.

i guess i can deal with metal skin in small doses...

should be an option, same as desktop background, autohide dock, etc etc.

[MacFan25]

I like the metal in some apps, and in others I like the aqua.

[bousozoku]

The brushed metal look is so much like audio equipment from the 1970s--dated. I like Aqua much better. Now, if Apple would give us smooth, anodised metals like the Mac OS 9.x CD player, I'd be more enthusiastic about something other than Aqua.

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by Freg3000
I used to think that Apple should just pick one and stick with it. But now I like having both.

Maybe they should have a preference... I know apple doesn't like these things and forces people to use hackies but they really needs to be a better appearance control panel. IMO.

I prefer the Aqua over metal alot more. Look at safari, it looks, old, with the brushed metal on it, I dunno try the aqua Safari, look just better, again IMO.

Alpha tech, I match you 10¢ and raise you up to 25 ¢.

[alset]

Originally posted by bousozoku
The brushed metal look is so much like audio equipment from the 1970s--dated. I like Aqua much better. Now, if Apple would give us smooth, anodised metals like the Mac OS 9.x CD player, I'd be more enthusiastic about something other than Aqua.

I don't remember that. Can you post a screenie?

Dan

[bgmccollum]

platinum...yes, platinum.

[edenwaith]

I would like it if they brought in a highly customizable interface. Windows sort of has it, but some variants of Linux have truly defined it by changing much more than color schemes, but also the look of the widgits, menu bars, etc.

[kansaigaijin]

anodised anything looks like cheap crap custombits you see at truck stop hardware counters. the powerbooks look okay in the aluminum look but any colours tend to look candy coated, a little like the fisher-price OS across the street. the multi-colour imac/imac era is over, time to move on with the times, to heavy metal X era.

go to any place selling high end appliances or check the design and architectural magazines and you will see metal, as in stainless steel, chrome, and aluminum. How about a $7000 stainless steel bathtub, washbasin, etc. High end and commercial kitchens are ss. They sell. Expensive ceramic tiles are $10-25. There are brushed and mirror finish stainless steel tiles that sell for $100/sqft!

don't confuse the look with poor implementation. Try it out before you knock it, on more than just the Apple apps.

try the "Brushed" theme

[robMaurizi]

Is it me, or is everyone overlooking form's evil twin, function?

The brushed metal interface, by default (not skinned) adds an extra level of functionality that aqua misses - one can grab the window on ANY of the brushed metal surfaces and move it.

I, for one, am pretty psyched to see more brushed metal in Apple's offerings. Yes, it looks considerably cooler than aqua, but more importantly, it WORKS BETTER!

Sure, if Apple added the ability to grab a window just about anywhere and move it around while maintaining the aqua look, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on, but the fact of the matter is, they haven't. Yet.

<flame-retardant suit>-Rob</flame-retardant suit>

[vniow]

Originally posted by kansaigaijin

try the "Brushed" theme

Blech, I much prefer Smooth Stripes (http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/themes/smoothstripes.htm) myself, but maybe it's just me...

I can live without being able to move windows from any point as long as it doesn't look tacky...

[Cheese]

Should we get the start of a new apps dev company that specializes in skins? I prefer Aqua, though metal would reign if there were more options... like chrome, or anodized. I would prefer a cheese skin, with choices like swiss and cheddar... maybe a rat shaped pointer icon...

[Snowy_River]

I'm curious how many people use the default form of Aqua, rather than loading a different theme. As I understand it, using a different theme is actually easier in OS X than it was in the classic MacOS.

There a quite a few theme switching apps out there, here are a couple:

Themer (http://www.stretch.tc/aquaworld/themes/themes.html)

Duality (http://conundrumsoft.com/Duality/duality.html)

I don't use the true Aqua, myself. What about you?

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by Snowy_River
I'm curious how many people use the default form of Aqua, rather than loading a different theme. As I understand it, using a different theme is actually easier in OS X than it was in the classic MacOS.

There a quite a few theme switching apps out there, here are a couple:

Themer (http://www.stretch.tc/aquaworld/themes/themes.html)

Duality (http://conundrumsoft.com/Duality/duality.html)

I don't use the true Aqua, myself. What about you?

i used duality milestone 3 for awhile, but it didn't seem overly stable. i am on the edge of my seat waiting for them to put out 4.0 GT which they promised would be out last week (dolts!).

anyways, i prefer the graphite aqua theme; can't stand the bright blue in regular aqua; i'd like to try and make my own aqua type skin.

but as far as the theme community goes, i haven't seen one i would use normally. Carbon's watercoloer theme is cool, as is his FatalE thing, but i wouldn't put it on my computer for more than a few minutes.

[bennyek]

I liked the aqua at first but have been steering toward metal lately, i'll probably lean back to aqua or whatever comes out next. i like change

[kansaigaijin]

Camenbert!

[jsjr]

ok, I am just wondering.... how to change the apps to either Brushed Metal or Aqua? Can anybody tell me?

I personally like the Brushed Metal Look...

[scem0]

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/15896

metallafier

[kansaigaijin]

check out the sitr of the guy who makes the theme,

http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/

very nice theme

[scem0]

Originally posted by kansaigaijin
check out the sitr of the guy who makes the theme,

http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/

very nice theme

AHHHHHHHHHH LOOK AT MAC OS XP!!!!!!!

WHY?!?!?! WHY?!?!?!

:eek: :eek: ;) :D :D

[iElvis]

Well its kinda like the people that have windows XP but use an Aqua theme (like me). He did do a nice job with it tho. I give him credit for that.

[kansaigaijin]

ya I agree, if you can't get past the small refernce to xp down the page you can go direct to the brushed theme,

http://homepage.mac.com/max_08/themes/brushed.htm

and not have your anti-fischer-price sensibilities offended.

[G4scott]

I like the brushed metal for it's contrast. You can distinctly tell where all of the UI things are on the window. To me, it's also easier on the eyes than the pinstripe Aqua look. Although I like both. I can live with either one.

The metal look also seems more futuristic IMHO. The Folding Status app that somebody here made had the metal UI, and it just looked cool to me. It looked more modern than if it were an aqua box. Aqua windows are great and all, but they need color, or images to make them more tolerable to the eyes (or at least mine.) It also makes text boxes and things with a white background easier to see.

Another thing that I noticed is that when Apple uses the brushed metal look, they don't leave vast open spaces of metal. Look at iCal, iChat, iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, Safari, you name it, if it's made by Apple there isn't much open space.

The other thing that I noticed is that they only use the brushed metal appearance on the main window(s) of the applications, not for preference menus or other things.

I see the brushed metal look as a better designed look, but accecptable. It's not shiny plastic, and it shouldn't be. It's easier to reed text off of the light grey metal than it is off a shiny plastic button or white pinstripe background.

[scem0]

I really don't care that much as long as it works.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by scem0
I really don't care that much as long as it works.
yeah, but you're a windows user. you don't count when it comes to aesthetic discussions ;)

[scem0]

aahaha. lol I use macs too, so I do count. :D

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by scem0
aahaha. lol I use macs too, so I do count. :D

doesn't work that way. to be a true mac user, you have to be committed; no sleeping around with bill gates' toys!

[bennetsaysargh]

does anyone know if you can have a theme for just one user on a computer? or does it have to be the whole computer

thanks in advance

[kansaigaijin]

mine changes all users, it might be possible to not change them all. you can always change back to aqua when you log out, even set a script maybe, only takes a minute.

[scem0]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
doesn't work that way. to be a true mac user, you have to be committed; no sleeping around with bill gates' toys!

I wouldn't be 'sleeping around' :D if apple would release a damned
970 powermac..... :rolleyes: ;) :D

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by scem0
I wouldn't be 'sleeping around' :D if apple would release a damned
970 powermac..... :rolleyes: ;) :D
then you should wait till then to be in the argument ;)

and i know you better than that. you wouldn't have the money to get a 970 Pmac. who are you kidding?

[shadowfax]

by the way, have any of you used duality 4.0 GT? it's a pretty smooth program for skinning OS X; i don't use it regularly because i like aqua, but i think anyone who doesn't has no excuses anymore. you can even get the (IMO very ugly) old OS 9 look back!

[scem0]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
then you should wait till then to be in the argument ;)

and i know you better than that. you wouldn't have the money to get a 970 Pmac. who are you kidding?


I have been saving for the last year and a half. I have about $1,600.

:D My parents are contributing $600, so I will get the 'faster' model.

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by scem0
I have been saving for the last year and a half. I have about $1,600.

:D My parents are contributing $600, so I will get the 'faster' model.

at least your saving techniques are better than mine.
last time i had enough money for an iPod, it was the 3rd time i had the money, and them i blew it on various games and stuff.
this time i am not spending any of my iPod money on anything (except the new iPods:))

[GeneR]

Originally posted by vniow
Depends on the app, some look ok in brushed metal while others look like crap but if I had to choose between the two, I'd go for Aqua, brushed metal looks cheesy a lot of the time.

I agree. :D

[SteveCh!snall]

Myself, I like the brushed metal design. It really fits with Apple's products in that looks unique. It also gives the whole environment a very modern, yet elegant (and sophisticated, in terms of classiness) appearance, a la de Lorean. Come to think of it, today's Macintoshes and the 1981 DMC-12 LK sport coupé have a lot in common: Metal exterior in a matte finish, a design that's much more stylish than any of the competition, and both (in their own eras) are/were far ahead of their time. Am I right?

SteveCh!snall

[BlueFrog]

I prefer aqua as well... I like the futuristic feel of it.

~Paul

[tazo]

AQUA all the way :)

[P-Worm]

I think I may be one of the few people that prefers the metal over the aqua. The vote was somewhat close, so maybe those that like the metal just aren't outspoken enough?

P-Worm

[jacques]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
yeah, but you're a windows user. you don't count when it comes to aesthetic discussions ;)

Shadowfax has a good point. Alas, I'm still a Windows user, having not yet switched, but Windows and aesthetics go together about like GM cars and quality.