[tightsocks]

So, I just did an erase and install of Leopard (from a retail DVD) on a Mid-2005 iBook.
10.5 from DVD with a manual update to 10.5.8 Combo, then updated with SoftwareUpdate.

-Desktop/ScreenSaver prefpane lacks a preference to disable translucent menu bar.

-Permissions repair consistently takes 45 min.

This is my first experience with Leopard. I have only dealt with Tiger and Snow Leopard.

Another odd thing is that the Finder animation when opening a folder looks MUCH smoother on the iBook than it does on a Mini (Late 2009) 10.6.x

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by tightsocks 

Desktop/ScreenSaver prefpane lacks a preference to disable translucent menu bar.

I don't see it in 10.5.x, so perhaps it is only a 10.6 feature?

[tightsocks]

I thought it was added as an option in 10.5.2

[Art Vandelay]

It depends on the GPU. An iBook most likely does not have a good enough GPU.

[tightsocks]

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay 

It depends on the GPU. An iBook most likely does not have a good enough GPU.

That makes sense, except that in this case I can't seem to turn it off!
Wouldn't it take more GPU power to display the transparency than to not?

The underlying desktop picture is blueish, and so the menu bar has an annoying blue tint to it.

And why are the 10.5 desktop animation effects nicer on the iBook than on the new Mini 10.6??

[DarkStarRed]

Originally Posted by Andy8 

I don't see it in 10.5.x, so perhaps it is only a 10.6 feature?

Hi it was always there from the start of 10.5.0 & you should be seeing it within your Desktop/Screen Saver preferences anyway I found this that might help?
10.5: Fix the transparent menu bar toggle in 10.5.2 - Mac OS X Hints

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by DarkStarRed 

Hi it was always there from the start of 10.5.0 & you should be seeing it within your Desktop/Screen Saver preferences anyway I found this that might help?
10.5: Fix the transparent menu bar toggle in 10.5.2 - Mac OS X Hints

Yes as Art mentioned, it appears to be GPU dependent:

Some graphics cards, such as NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 or ATI X800 and X850 cards, may not have the necessary OpenGL capabilities to display a translucent menu bar even though they are compatible with Core Image. Those cards should render most effects, but not the translucent menu bar. (ATI X800 and X850 cards display a translucent menu bar if the resolution is set below 2560-by-1600 pixels.)

[jmiddel]

But the OP is saying that the iBook is displaying the translucent menu bar, so, as s/he says in their third post, why can't it be reset to OFF, which, as pointed out, would be more CPU forgiving?

Repairing permissions is probably useless, and the iBook is slow and possibly low on RAM? I would re-install the combo, and the other updates, then restart in Safe Mode to clean things up (Shift key while restarting), then restart normally. Give it a try and post back