NeXT - March 10, 2004

NeXT Preview Author: Swizcore Studio
Version: 1.0
Reviewed by: Dave Thomson
User Rating: 63%
NeXT 2.0 sports a professionally designed user interface and is easily a theme that one could use daily. Swiz has created a faithful copy of NeXT for OS X. Though a dated look, few computer interfaces were as distinctive as this one. While it may not be for everyone, NeXT must be tried to be appreciated. It's probably better than you think.

Aesthetics
NeXT Controls NeXT 2.0 is a copy of NEXTSTEP, the NeXT OS, and it's quite accurate. In fact, I loaded up DragThing and with a few changes, I was able to duplicate the palettes of NEXTSTEP. It looked just like the real thing.

NeXT is a dated look though, and graphical user interfaces have been vastly improved. Specifically, other operating systems are actually colorful. They're more pleasing. The black, white, and gray look is easy on the eyes, but can just as easily get old. NeXT's retro look reminds me of the 'old days,' albeit without the unexpected crashes, freezes, and data loss.

But before I loaded it, I didn't feel NeXT was the 'retro' I was looking for. I winced when it was time to load up this theme and prepare a review. The preview picture just didn't look attractive to me; It wasn't the theme though, it was NeXT, and I've never cared for it. For me, NeXT 2.0 was just something that I had to explore for a while before switching to another theme. But after installing and exploring NeXT 2.0, I found that it is a much much better than it may appear at first blush.

Usability
I was extremely surprised at how easy to use this theme is. There won't be much use of ShapeShifter's exclude feature with this theme. Of about 2 dozen applications and utilities I've tried, I haven't found one that NeXT doesn't work great with. For example, the tools and palettes of Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop work perfectly when using NeXT. In fact, in some ways they're even easier to look at when using this theme. Why? I found that the lack of color was helpful in a way. Mac OS X is known as an OS that "gets out of the way" so a user can work without noticing the OS. This can be particularly true of OS X running the NeXT theme. The blacks and grays are simple, clear, and unobtrusive.

My affection for this simple look comes from having used computers for over 20 years. I've been comfortable using far older interfaces than that of Mac OS X or Windows, so I'm just a sucker for a retro look. In the past, I've looked for a theme with the 'green screen' look that I remember from using my old Apple IIIc. Except for a few apps, my IIIc didn't have much of a GUI though, so the more I think of it, a green screen would look just awful on OS X. What was I thinking? NeXT, based on a graphical user interface -- but classic in look -- is a nice compromise.

There are a few problems, but nothing major. With black menu bars sporting white text, sometimes it's tough to see which is frontmost. But that's authentic to NeXT though, so the theme can't be blamed. The resize buttons of the rear menu bars turn darker, so it's not too dificult. Also, on the Open/Save boxes the expand/contract arrow looks kind of odd, as do the list, column, front, and back buttons. Radio buttons sometimes aren't drawn right and it can be difficult to see if they're selected, with the selected buttons appearing as white. It may not be consistent with the NeXT OS look, but a black bullet in the middle would make it easier to tell. No one uses NeXT anymore, so who would know?

The only other real problems that I could find in the look were inherent to theming OS X, not problems with NeXT 2.0. Sometimes Aqua elements that are built into applications don't change with the theme, as some developers assume that OS X is Aqua and not themed. Applications like Microsoft Word and Keynote are good examples. The split screen selector in Word remains Aqua blue and Keynote has a few buttons that remain aquafied, too.

Extras
There are no small NeXT folders for Safari in the included Safari theme, so grouped bookmarks are organized using Aqua folders. In addition, Safari's location bar is grayed out, filling up with a black progress bar as pages load - I just don't care for that. While it's been quite a while since I've seen NeXT, and I don't remember there being too many more, this theme comes with just two icons. The only desktop that I've ever seen used on a NeXT machine is a purpley-pink color, perhaps mauve. I'm semi-color blind so my description is suspect, but the correct color is included. You'll figure it out. Extras that I typically forget about are there, such as iChat and Airport signal status menu bar icons, but it would have been awfully cool to see a NeXT logo on the menu bar instead of an Apple icon.

Conclusion
NeXT was a company started by Steve Jobs in 1985 after his highly public ouster from Apple Computer. He seemed intent on proving that he could make a new computer all over again, and to improve upon computers that other companies were making. The NeXT cube and NEXTSTEP OS were released in 1988 to much fanfare, but in the end they weren't very popular. There were many innovative technologies in the OS however, especially OPENSTEP, its application development tool. In fact, the first web browser ever created was written on a NeXT Cube by Tim Berners-Lee. Only about 50,000 NeXT machines were ever sold and NEXTSTEP was not widely used. For most failed experiments, that would be the end of it. BeOS, Amiga, OS 2 - they all have their adherents even today, but for the most part their influence has waned. However, Apple's purchase of NeXT in 1997 was instrumental in the creation of OS X and its development environment, so NeXT's honored position in the Mac OS X family tree is important to remember.

In the end, with Jobs' well-known return to Apple, it's easy to argue that his NeXT experiment was wildly successful. At some point I may end up switching back to SmoothStripes, my typical theme choice, but NeXT 2.0 is an impressively detailed theme of this retired OS. Swiz has done a phenomenal job on it.

Aesthetics: NeXT is not a beauty in modern terms, but it's retro and it works.

6.0

Usability: There are few problems with NeXT in use, but nearly perfect.

8.5

Extras: Only two icons. I'd prefer a better Safari skin.

6.0

Reviewer's Weight: This is a great port and looks as it should.

9.5

Overall: There are very few problems. A solid theme, and a great port.

7.5

Posted by phillryu on March 10, 2004 | Comments (14)

Comments

Posted by Daniel Grenell at March 11, 2004 07:15 AM | Edit | Delete

i'd say this review pin pointed the essence of this theme, retro.

Posted by swiz at March 11, 2004 08:46 AM | Edit | Delete

I think the reason that the NEXT GUI replaces Aqua so well is that Steve Jobs probably used the NeXT footprint as a template for the Aqua designers. It seems only natural since Steve obviously still has an attachment to his previous digital endeavor. Anyone snoop around the system and see all those NeXT images files? They're there.

Posted by the fool on the hill at March 11, 2004 09:46 AM | Edit | Delete

don't remember what NeXT looked like? go and download windowmaker and see for yourself.
btw, swiz, i'd like to see the other type of buttons; you know, the ones that fill the height of the title bar. thanks though, my mac is much happier!

Posted by zed at March 11, 2004 04:29 PM | Edit | Delete

Long live retro!!!! :^)

Posted by Dave at March 12, 2004 11:44 PM | Edit | Delete

I still have NeXT loaded on my machine. It works great! Color would be nice to have again, though... I miss the Aquaey goodness of regular old OS X.

Posted by damndj at March 14, 2004 05:23 PM | Edit | Delete

Excellent review and spot on I may add..

Posted by Dave at March 16, 2004 05:17 AM | Edit | Delete

Thanks! Really, I was shocked when I loaded up this theme - it was much better than I thought it would be. After getting over my surprise, I just wanted my review to do it justice.

Posted by Nils Hott at April 1, 2004 02:59 AM | Edit | Delete

For comparison: here are a couple of screenshots from the real thing:
http://www.nilshott.com/NeXT/
That's NEXTSTEP 3.3 running on my NeXTstation. :)

Posted by wolf at April 19, 2004 04:54 AM | Edit | Delete

I use themes to improve "front window" appearance - optimally, the front window would be some bright pink and everything else just gray, like some Solaris or CDE imitations ('CDE' for Kaleidoscope was such a theme).

The problem with this otherwise very nice NeXT theme is that the current version of X11 seems to use 'black' as window title font, so those won't show up on the window title bars. That makes this theme not usable for X11 work.

Wolf.

Posted by Heiesuke at April 29, 2004 09:36 AM | Edit | Delete

yes this is retro, and i'm not really into that lol.

Posted by at May 13, 2004 10:28 AM | Edit | Delete

I really like it, the theme has been made very well, it looks how it should. maybe not a beauty, but it works fine.

Posted by pojo at May 13, 2004 10:29 AM | Edit | Delete

I really like it, the theme has been made very well, it looks how it should. maybe not a beauty, but it works fine.

Posted by MacDragon123 at June 2, 2004 11:39 AM | Edit | Delete

I Love It Good Job Swiz

Posted by aste giudiziarie at August 10, 2004 06:21 PM | Edit | Delete

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