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gradient · 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by J-a-x

I just wanted to add that I don't have a transparent menu bar either.

I'm running a clean (formatted drive) install of Leopard on a 12" G4 Powerbook 1.5 Ghz. I see transparencies when I click on the menu, but the bar is 100% opaque and gray. I don't mind it so much, but I'd like to know how to enable the transparency just to see how it looks.

I see transparencies fine in other places (menus, the dock, etc), and I see the ripple effect in Dashboard. I also see the reflections in the "3D" dock, so I don't think it's a graphics card issue. I was thinking that it was disabled on all G4 powerbooks but somebody said he has a transparency on an iBook so that leads me to believe that it's not the case.

Please let me know if anybody figures out how to enable the transparent menu bar. I'd like to see how it looks!

Yes, my iBook G4 1.33 has the transparent menu bar, very weird that your faster power book, that I believe has a better graphics card, wouldn't.

legacyb4 · 12:07 AM

G5/1.6 - opaque menu bar with Dashboard ripple (stock GeForce 5200)
PBG4 12"/1.0G - opaque menu bar with Dashboard ripple
Macbook 2.0G - translucent menu bar with Dashboard ripple

I actually prefer opaque.

Omar07 · Oct 27, 2007, 06:16 PM

I've got a 867 G4 12" PowerBook and am having similar issues. The menubar is not transparent, yet the dock does have the rippling effect. TIA

.Neo · Oct 27, 2007, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by legacyb4

PBG4 12"/1.0G - opaque menu bar with Dashboard ripple
Macbook 2.0G - translucent menu bar with Dashboard ripple

I actually prefer opaque.

That's really odd. I'd expect that it lies with having Core Image support or not, but if you have the Dashboard ripple effect I'm out of theories. Seems like Apple screwed this one up.

Jasoco · Oct 27, 2007, 07:30 PM

It could be a good old fashioned bug. Just file a report. Maybe it will be fixed in 10.5.1.

And ask for an option to turn it off so the ones who have it and hate it can be happy and the ones who don't have it yet and don't want it won't start threads.

gradient · Oct 27, 2007, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Jasoco

It could be a good old fashioned bug. Just file a report. Maybe it will be fixed in 10.5.1.

And ask for an option to turn it off so the ones who have it and hate it can be happy and the ones who don't have it yet and don't want it won't start threads.

Amen.

Jasoco · Oct 27, 2007, 10:50 PM

I for one want it. But I can see how people wouldn't. They should have kept it optional. Or adjustable. And gosh dangit, let us choose something other than blue and graphite! My red menubar looks like crap with bright blue or ugly gray menu items! WTF, Apple? You neglected more color options since 10.0 Beta.

nycdunz · Oct 28, 2007, 03:14 PM

it obviously sounds like a bug, some ppl have it some don't... even an ibook g4 has transparent menubar when my dual 2.7ghz G5 doesn't... please fix this Apple! i would love to have the transparent menubar!

i just did some testing, i went to the display preferences in system settings, change the resolution and my menu bar was transparent, changed it back to native resolution and it was gone, and then changed the resolution again and transparencey in my menubars don't show at all anymore... it also fixes the display problem with the bottom middle bar (between restore and cancel button) in time machine. At native resolution 2560x1600 on my 30" cinema, that area in between the 2 buttons is completely white, after i switch to a different resolution, all is fine... very buggy!!

Andrej · Dec 20, 2007, 10:15 PM

I'm also having the same problem (whoa...this is an old thread)

iMac G5 1.6GHz.

I thought that I recall the menu bar being almost completely opaque right out of the box, but there was a very slight transparency. But then I didn't care to pay attention to it anymore after switching desktops, and the transparency has been away ever since.

Originally, I thought that well, I guess Apple made this their last-minute change to Golden Master.

Still no fix for this problem anyone?

Also, my Powerbook G4 1.5GHz has the opaque menu bar.

Finally, can't wait to return to normal folder hierarchy with 10.5.2.

Andrej · Dec 22, 2007, 12:25 PM

Oh, and just so people know, I just did a Zero erase and install of my Powerbook's hard drive and reinstalled Leopard....and, all of a sudden, my computer's menu bar transparency is back.

See? I knew that there used to be transparency!

hwojtek · Dec 22, 2007, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Nai no Kami

I really don't understand it. My PowerBook 12 1.5GHz has a reflective, translucent dock

My PowerBook 12" 1.5 GHz has it as well, and has the menubar opaque. I love it.

allbrighwes · Jan 8, 2008, 04:45 PM

I have the same problem with my MBP! The Mac bar at the top is transparent but the dock isn't. The dock is reflective and 3d. I don't think its a hardware issue since it's a C2D @ 2.16 and 3GB of ram so it has 128 MB video ram. I'm confused, maybe it's a different build than other people have.

P · Jan 10, 2008, 07:25 AM

The menubar is not transparent on Geforce 5200 Ultra, which is used in (among other things) the first iMac G5s and as the base config board in many Powermac G5s. That GPU is otherwise Core Image capable, but for some reason this feature is disabled. Apple has a KB article on this.

PaperNotes · Jan 10, 2008, 01:38 PM

The reason is with CoreImage blur effect enabled Apple couldn't fix cursor lag on the FX5200. You can see this for yourself right now if you hit command+P on this webpage. Expand the Print dialogue sheet to full detailed view. This sheet uses the blur effect and transparency. If you move your cursor around or try to do other GUI stuff you'll notice the cursor is lagging. This is much worse on a G4 than the G5s. If Apple enabled the effect in the title bar the cursor would lag permanently which would cause endless complaints. Basically, Quartz isn't quite as GPU friendly as Direct X. It's a resource hog.