Ubuntu is a free operating system that we can install on any PC without worrying about licenses and crack, being ready for use at the end of the installation. The graphic environment offered by Ubuntu is very pleasant and easy to use, but surely it may not meet the graphic needs of all users, perhaps fascinated by the style and graphic environment offered by a modern Apple MacBook.
What novice users with Linux don't know is that the level of customization of this operating system is truly extraordinary, to the point of being able to make a Linux PC equal to the Mac.
We find out in this guide how to turn Ubuntu into a Mac, at least from an aesthetic point of view (no changes will be made at the heart of the system: it will always be a GNU / Linux operating system and will require compatible programs for the latter).
For this guide we will use Ubuntu 17.10, the latest stable version available at the time of writing.
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1) Install Gnome Tweak Tool
In order to manage all the changes in terms of theme and graphics, we recommend installing the Gnome Tweat Tool first.
Installing it is not difficult, just enter the following command line inside a terminal (look for it in the sidebar or in the menu at the bottom left):
sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool
We confirm with the Enter key and pressing the Y key as further confirmation, then wait for the end of the installation to proceed to the next steps.
2) Install Mac themes, icons and cursors
The first step of the transformation involves the addition of themes, icon packs and cursors identical to those available on any Mac.
To be able to add them, open a terminal again and type the following commands, making sure to insert one line at a time (insert and confirm, then wait for the end of the process before typing the next line).
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: noobslab / macbuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install macbuntu-os-icons-v10
sudo apt-get install macbuntu-os-ithemes-v10
After all the steps we can already customize the appearance of Ubuntu by opening the previously installed Gnome Tweak Tool program (we can also search for GNOME Customizations) and going to the Appearance screen; here we apply the Macbuntu pack or one of the similar packages to the Applications, Cursor and Icons item (there is also the dark theme or the NT theme of the same pack).
For a complete transformation we will also have to enable the Shell voice, normally not available in Ubuntu.
To do this, type the following command from terminal:
sudo apt-get install chrome-gnome-shell
At the end we open Mozilla Firefox and go to the link here -> User Themes GNOME .
We will be asked to install an extension, confirm and reload the page at the end to unlock the activation button of the GNOME add-on.
If we have done everything correctly within Gnome Tweak Tool -> Appearance we can now put the Macbuntu theme under Shell, applying the team to all the system bars.
3) Search system for programs and files
On Mac there is the Spotlight application, which allows you to quickly search for any program, system function or file on the disk.
We can also integrate similar functionality on Ubuntu by installing Albert, a handyman search system; to integrate it, simply run the following terminal commands one at a time:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: noobslab / macbuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install albert
At the end we look for the Albert program and start it, so we can choose the hotkey with which to call it when we need to search for something.
We can customize the theme to make it even more similar to the Mac using the gear-shaped button or by clicking on the Albert icon on the top right and choosing the Yosemite theme in the Setting menu.
4) Lower program bar (Dock)
What sets Mac apart from other systems is the bottom bar, where we can start all the desired programs.
A very similar bar can be installed in Ubuntu thanks to the Plank program and its Mac theme.
To install Plank on Ubuntu we run the following terminal commands:
sudo apt-get install plank
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: noobslab / macbuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install macbuntu-os-plank-theme-v9
At the end of the installation of all the components we start Plank (if it does not start, we try to exit the current user session and set Ubuntu as a graphical environment on Xorg, by clicking on the gear on the login screen).
To customize the bar, keep the CRTL key pressed and right click on the bottom bar, then select Preferences and in the Theme item choose one of the Macbuntu themes.
The bar looks very similar to that of the Mac, it automatically hides with full screen windows and any new programs opened will be added to the bar.
5) Application menu
Before removing the sidebar, make sure we have a good replacement to open the programs on the system by installing Slingscold Launcher.
To integrate it into the system, we run the following terminal commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: noobslab / macbuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install slingscold
At the end of the installation we open the Slingcold program and make sure it is fixed in the lower bar.
5) Sidebar and Mac backgrounds
Now that we have the bottom bar, the side bar is superfluous!
To delete it, simply open Settings -> Dock and activate the item Automatically hide the dock .
The bar will disappear, but can still be called (by necessity) by hovering the mouse on the left part of the screen.
Now we only need the wallpapers: we can download the Mac wallpapers from the link here -> Macbuntu Wallpapers .
To install one, just right-click on the background we are interested in and use the item Set as background .
Now Ubuntu looks very similar to a Mac!
If we can't find a program or open the file manager, we can always click on the bitten apple symbol at the top left to open the sidebar.
6) Mac font
To conclude the customization of Ubuntu, the original Mac font could not be missing, so as to have texts very similar to those obtainable with Apple products.
To add the Mac font we type the following terminal commands:
wget -O mac-fonts.zip //drive.noobslab.com/data/Mac/macfonts.zip
sudo unzip mac-fonts.zip -d / usr / share / fonts; rm mac-fonts.zip
sudo fc-cache -f -v
Once the installation is finished we open Gnome Tweak Tool, go to the Fonts menu and for each item we choose a new Apple font (if we cannot find them, we use the search bar integrated in the font selection window).
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