How do I make my taskbar look translucent in Leopard?

[TheScavenger]

My girlfriend just bought a new MacBook with Leopard. Her taskbar is translucent. How do I change the taskbar on my PowerBook with Leopard to look transparent?

Thanks, Josh

 

[overanalyzer]

I don't think you can. If you look through the forums you'll see people saying it's dependent on the video card and I don't think the PowerBooks are capable of the transparency effect.

 

[ryanmcd02]

According to apple you cannot. I have the same power book, with a Go Force 5200 video card, which apple lists as one that won't.

I hope they change this at some point, because it obviously could be feasible if the powerbook can run the new dock.

 

[TheScavenger]

All of the drop-down menus from the taskbar are translucent as well as the backgrounds for stacks open via the dock. I don's see how this isn't possible.

 

[ryanmcd02]

It has something to do with Core Image being used vs Quartz. I am with you, it should obviously be possible. I would like it to be updated into leopard for our video cards rather than have to get a 3rd party app.

 

[zakatov]

btw, its called menu bar, not task bar

 

[QuarterSwede]

All of the drop-down menus from the taskbar are translucent as well as the backgrounds for stacks open via the dock. I don's see how this isn't possible.

From what I understand, the menu bar uses not only the translucent effect (which it can do) but also a shader effect to make it look some what rounded. That's the call that the video card doesn't have.

Why make it solid instead of just a flat translucent bar, where most people wouldn't even notice the difference anyway? Got me. I think that was a bad call on Apple's part.

 

[adamtcr]

The Transparency effect as well as the swirling gasses/flying stars effect from Time Machine will not work on any PowerPC based Mac, only the Intel based Macs support Leopards core animations and effects

I know it sucks...one of my main computers is a PowerMac G4 while my mobile is a MacBook with full support for Leopard.