sponsored by

OSdata.com

Macintosh OS 9

See also: Macintosh

summary

    Macintosh OS 9 is a desktop operating system made by Apple Computer that runs on Motorola/IBM PowerPC.

• further reading: books on Mac OS 9

    “After two decades of supplying boring beige boxes, PC makers have begun to add a bit of color and style to their lines, following the runaway success of Apple’s iMac line, a candy-colored machine designed for consumers that was not simply a repackaged business box. Industrial design isn’t the only selling point. A fundamental shift in computing has occurred. For business users and consumers alike, what matters is being connected to the Web, not the raw processing power of the desktop computer. The most intriguing new technologies aren’t spreadsheets or word-processing programs, or the latest updates to Windows. Digital photography, digital music, desktop video editing, and high speed internet access are where the action is. A top-flight desktop computer or notebook is nice to have, but what makes that technology really rock is all the gear that goes with it. Computer manufacturers have altered their product lines in recognition of that trend. Apple’s top-end consumer model, the iMac DV Special Edition, comes with a stellar sound system, high-speed FireWire ports for transferring video, and the company’s iMovie software for editing movies.” —Fortune Technology Guide^m2

Kind of OS: proprietary

Release Date:

Current Version: 9.2

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, 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: 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 ME (with third party Virtual PC), Windows NT (with third party Virtual PC), Windows 2000 (with third party Virtual PC), Windows XP (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

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

    Universal Command Guide; by Guy Lotgering (UCG Team); Hungry Minds, Inc; April 2002; ISBN 0764548336; hardcover with CD-ROM; 1,600 pages; $69.99; cross references all of the commands from: AIX; Solaris; RedHat Linux; Berkeley BSD; NetWare 3.2, 4.11, 5, and 6; DOS 6.22; Windows 95, 98, ME, XP, NT 4 Workstation, NT 4 Server, NT 4 Terminal Server, 2000 Professional, 2000 Server, 2000 Advanced Server; Citrix Mainframe 1.8; and Mac 9

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).

    Click here for our privacy policy.

Click here to skip over the summaries of individual operating systems.

previous page	next page

home page

peer level

    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

Click here to skip over the summaries of individual operating systems.

previous page	next page