Aaron 1.6.1
OS-8 Look for System 7
NOTE: There are two versions of Aaron. Some time after preparing the original review, Greg Landweber created Aaron Light 1.2.3. The two 'Aarons' serve different purposes: version 1.6.1 gives System 7 users some of the appearance of OS-8; the Light version 1.2.3 is designed to make OS-8 look more like OS-8. Really.
If you're using any System 7 version of the Mac and want to uplift your spirits, Aaron may be just the ticket.
Aaron is a little extension that makes your Mac appear much like OS-8. While OS-8 was being cooked up in the Cupertino skunkworks, outside developers were pioneering new looks for the release. As it happens, the Aaron look became part of OS-8. So if you don't have Apple's newest operating system, you can mimic much of its appearance by dropping Aaron into your System folder and restarting.
What you will see is a major desktop transformation. Most striking is the overall 3D effect to your folders. Aaron also replaces your icons for suitcases, fonts, clippings and generic documents and applications. The makeover continues with scroll bars, buttons, and popup menus being dressed up and made much more presentable.
There's more. Close a window to the Finder and you'll see your window spin as it zooms away. Make a copy or empty the trash while you watch a new 3D progress bar (you can change the bar's color in your Color control panel). Bottom line is an impressive makeover to a plain vanilla interface.
Aaron is, in my experience, entirely stable. No conflicts, no glitches. But be prudent and read the few pages of its documentation to avoid potential conflicts with your favorite programs and extensions.
Aaron requires 68020 or better and is accelerated for Power Macs. You can download it in a minute or so at < http://www.kaleidoscope.net/greg >. Unless you're intending to upgrade to OS-8, Aaron is a very small but worthwhile investment to enhance the look of your Mac.
