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Macintosh OS 8

See also: Macintosh

summary

    Macintosh OS 8 is a desktop operating system made by Apple Computer that runs on Motorola/IBM PowerPC and Motorola 68040.

• further reading: books on Mac OS 8

Kind of OS: proprietary

Release Date:

    “An Allegro tweak (probably Mac OS 8.6) will come out in the first quarter of 1999, and Mac OS X will hit the streets in the third quarter of 1999.” —Dennis Sellers, “The X-Files: Rhapsody, Allegro + Sonata = Mac OS 10”^e30

Current Version: 8.6

Cost: $99

Maximum Number of Processors: 4^e114

Number of bits: 32

Kernel: proprietary

POSIX: not supported

Peripherals: “all current Mac hardware, some graphics equipment, and some PC PCI cards” —Kristian Elof Sørensen^w36

File Systems Supported: HFS+, HFS, MFS, Pro-DOS, FAT, FAT32, VFAT, SMB, ISO 9660, hybrid, CD-i, Video CD, Enhanced CD, Kodak PhotoDisk, audio CD, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-R/W, DVD-RAM

Other Systems Emulated: PowerPC only: MS-DOS (with third party Virtual PC), Windows 3.1 (with third party Virtual PC), Windows 95 (with third party Virtual PC or SoftWindows95), Windows 98 (with third party Virtual PC or SoftWindows98), Windows 2000 (with third party Virtual PC), Red Hat Linux (with third party Virtual PC) — see related software

Graphics Engine: QuickDraw

Text Command Shell: none (although AppleScript provides some text command line capabilities)

User Interface (graphic): Macintosh ToolBox

Graphic Command Shell: Finder

click on the preview image for a larger version

screen shot courtesy of Pat Gunn’s Operating Systems^w59

Internet Services:

Other:

    “Macs have many advantages: ease of use, integration of OS and hardware, reliability, overall lower cost of ownership over the life of the machine, and, of course, style.” —Why Monopolies Are Bad, by Jeff Adkins^w77

     “That Macintosh computers have so many advantages over PCs running Windows 95 should come as no surprise. While Microsoft has spent years trying to imitate the interface and duplicate the features pioneered on the Macintosh in the 1980s, Apple has taken the Macintosh to the next generation of personal computing. This next generation of personal computing, based on RISC processors and component software, means that Macintosh computers bring you more advanced features than PCs running Windows 95, and that those features are easier to use on Macintosh systems.

    A 10-year head start is only one reason why Macintosh computers have the edge on PCs running Windows 95. The other reason is that Apple is the only major personal computer company to craft both the hardware and operating system software—together. That makes it easier for Macintosh users to start using new features.” — Apple Computer^w49

    After numerous requests for specific recommendations, OSdata.com now includes recommended systems for different kinds of content creation. See each individual web page for the recommendations for each field of content creation.

references

further reading: books: administration

The Complete Guide to Netware 4.11/Intranetware; 2nd edition; by James E. Gaskin; Sybex; December 1996; ISBN 078211931X; paperback; $47.99; includes information on getting NetWare working with Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, and OS/2

related hardware

We are working on providing a second source.

related software

Virtual PC 3.0 with MS-DOS; Connectix; software that allows running MS-DOS software on a PowerPC Macintosh; $74.95

Virtual PC 3.0 with Windows 95; Connectix; software that allows running Windows 95 software on a PowerPC Macintosh; $144.95

Virtual PC 3.0 with Windows 98; Connectix; software that allows running Windows 98 software on a PowerPC Macintosh; $174.95

Virtual PC 3.0 with Red Hat Linux; Connectix; software that allows running Linux software on a PowerPC Macintosh; Linux preconfigured on a software emulation of a Pentium machine, so there is no reformatting of hard drives or installation of Linux; both the Macintosh and Linux running simultaneously on the same computer; $84.95 ($34.95 after mail-in rebate)

Virtual PC for Windows 2000; Connectix; software that allows running Windows 2000 software on a PowerPC Macintosh; $239.95

    Also see the summary at Macintosh.

1.1 MB QuickTime movie of Bill Gates explaining why he thinks the Macintosh is the best operating system.

geek humor

    There are three types of computer users:

1. Those who use Macs
2. Those who wish they used Macs
3. Those who don’t know any better

    Its a Windows world, and Macintosh users are on the outside looking in…laughing their heads off at all the frozen computers, the anguished faces, the 911 calls to tech support…

    “The Atari 520 ST is a serious challenge to the Apple Macintosh and will open up a major fight in the personal computer market.” —1986 advertisement

commentary

support for older machines

    Note: Apple has decided that they are no longer going to support hardware more than one or two years old. The Macintosh is the computer of choice in academic settings because schools simply don’t have the budgets to replace their entire hardware every year or two (there are still more Apple IIs in use in schools than any other computer, with the Macintosh being second). The Macintosh used to be the only computer that had a useful lifespan of more than three years. Until recent Apple policies, the latest Macintosh operating system ran on every Macintosh made. If you disagree with this new Apple policy and believe that Apple should return to the previous policy of supporting their entire installed academic base of computers, please send a message to leadership@apple.com or .

    A web site on dozens of operating systems simply can’t be maintained by one person. This is a cooperative effort. If you spot an error in fact, grammar, syntax, or spelling, or a broken link, or have additional information, commentary, or constructive criticism, please e-mail Milo. If you have any extra copies of docs, manuals, or other materials that can assist in accuracy and completeness, please send them to Milo, PO Box 1361, Tustin, CA, USA, 92781.

    If you have an extra or unwanted copy of any official manuals or documentation on this operating system, please send them to: Milo, POB 1361, Tustin, CA 92781, USA. I have the following items: NONE.

    Note: I am looking for a fan of the Macintosh who has the time to check this web site for completeness and accuracy regarding the Macintosh. Just check through the site about once a week or so and report back with any information (including the URL of the web page you are reporting).

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    This web site handcrafted on Macintosh computers using Tom Bender’s Tex-Edit Plus and served using FreeBSD .

    †UNIX used as a generic term unless specifically used as a trademark (such as in the phrase “UNIX certified”). UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd.

    Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 Milo

    Last Updated: March 31, 2004

    Created: July 14, 2000; derived from Mac.htm created June 22, 1998

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