14 DAY TRIAL // Windows XP is one of the operating systems that people loved the most, and the leaked source code that made the WWW earlier this week provides us with a closer look at some of the features that these users never got the chance to try out.
And to be honest, it’s better this way, as one of the unreleased goodies is a Windows XP theme that would have made the operating system look like Apple’s Mac.
Screenshots posted by The Verge and based on information discovered in the leaked code show that Microsoft built a copycat of Apple’s Aqua interface that was announced at the Macworld Conference & Expo no less than 20 years ago.
Interestingly enough, Microsoft wanted the theme to be used only internally, so there’s a chance that the company never wanted this visual style to go live for the public. However, Microsoft itself describes it as “eye candy,” especially as the Start button and other graphical components seem to be heavily inspired by Apple’s Mac.
Windows XP, a turning point for Windows
At the end of the day, it’s actually better that Microsoft ended up not releasing this theme, as such a visual style would have only fueled the criticism against the company and its operating system.
Two decades ago, the competition between Windows and Mac on the desktop was much fiercer, and the two parent companies often accused each other of copying certain features.
On the other hand, Windows XP was a major turning point for Microsoft’s desktop operating system, as it was the first to come with theme support and allow users to heavily customize the look. The Luna theme that was bundled with Windows XP has thus gained lots of fans across the world, though the support for third-party themes made the 2001 operating system a customization haven for everyone.