Although the Classic Mac OS remains useful, it’s getting hard to find at a reasonable price. We hope these links help you do so, whether for System 6, Mac OS 9.2.2, or something in between.
According to Apple, the Classic Mac OS is dead (see this video from April 2002), but that’s not really true. It’s still alive and well and being used – just no longer with any support from Apple. At Low End Mac, we continued to use Mac OS 9.2.2 daily well into 2013, albeit via Classic Mode in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
We’ve scoured the Web in search of online stores that have the Classic Mac OS available, and we’ve found System 6.0.8 on floppies, Mac OS 9.2.2 CDs, and many versions in between. Note that some install CDs are specific to certain computers; we do our best to note that when possible.
We’ve also added links for some software titles for the Classic Mac OS: AppleWorks, Adobe Photoshop, iMovie, and more.
If you have a Mirrored Drive Doors Power Mac G4 or a PowerBook G4 with DVI output, be sure to look for the 2002 version of the Mac OS 9.2.2 install CD. The 2001 version predates these models and will not create a bootable system for them, although it will create a system that can be used in Classic Mode.
Note that you can download System 6.0.8 and 7.5.3 (plus the 7.5.5 update) from Apple. See our Classic Mac OS Downloads and Updates for links and more information.
- Using System 6? Join our System 6 Forum or System 6 List.
- Using System 7? Join our System 7 Forum.
- Using Mac OS 8 or 9? Join our Mac OS 8 & 9 Forum.
- Using Mac OS 9? Join our Mac OS 9 List.
Low End Mac does not sell software. Please use the links below to order from the vendor of your choice.
For prices on Mac OS X versions that support Classic Mode, see:
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals
- Best Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger Deals
Intel-based Macs and Mac OS X 10.5 and higher do not support Classic Mode unless your are running Mac emulation software.
Best Classic Mac OS Prices
- System 6.0.8, $10 on HD floppies, $13 on 800K floppies, Operator Headgap
- System 7.1, 800K floppies, $30, Operator Headgap
- System 7.5, HD floppies, $20, Operator Headgap
- System 7.5.3, HD floppies, $40 (free online upgrade to 7.5.5), Operator Headgap
- Mac OS 7.6.1 CD, $60, Hard Core Mac
- Mac OS 8.0 CD, $80, Hard Core Mac
- Mac OS 8.1 CD, $30 shipped, Operator Headgap
- Mac OS 8.5.1 CD, $30, FastMac
- Mac OS 8.6 CD, $30, FastMac
- Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, iMac only, includes AppleWorks 6.0.3, $15 shipped, Operator Headgap
- Mac OS 9.2.2 CD (early 2002), $9.95, Your Mac Store
Be sure to factor in shipping costs and possible sales tax. Unless otherwise noted, there is no surcharge for credit card purchases and shipping is not included. Vendors are listed in alphabetical order. Be sure to visit their sites for full details.
Prices may be limited to quantity on hand. Manuals and packaging may be missing. Not responsible for typos.
Buying through some of these links benefits Low End Mac. Buying at these prices benefits you.
Classic Mac OS Upgrade Guide
In many instances, Apple offers free downloadable updates to those with earlier versions of the Mac OS. Sometimes this has to be done in multiple steps. The final revision is usually more stable and/or feature complete. Note that you must have a Mac with an Apple floppy drive to create 800K floppies. USB floppy drives only support high density (1.4M) Mac floppies, not 800K diskettes.
- Systems 6.0.8 and 7.0.1 can be downloaded for free from Apple and copied to floppy disks.
- System 7.5.3 can also be downloaded for free, but the files are not disk images. Any version of System 7.5.x can be updated to 7.5.5, although a few Macs do not support 7.5.5.
- Mac OS 7.6 can be updated to 7.6.1.
- Mac OS 8.0 can be updated to 8.1.
- Mac OS 8.5 and 8.5.1 can be updated to 8.6.
- Mac OS 9.0.x can be updated to 9.1, the last version supported on some PowerPC Macs.
- Mac OS 9.0.x and 9.1.x can be updated to 9.2.2.
Classic Mac OS
Amazon.com
- Mac OS 8.5, new from $46.97 + $5.92 shipping, open box from $20.00 + $3.99 shipping
FastMac
- Mac OS 8.5.1, $29.99
- Mac OS 8.6, $29.99
- Mac OS 9.0.4, $29.99
- Mac OS 9.1, $29.99
- Mac OS 9.2, $29.99
- Mac OS 9.2.2, $29.99
Hard Core Mac
- Mac OS 7.5.3 on floppies, $41.99
- Mac OS 7.6.1 CD, $59.99
- Mac OS 8.0 CD, $59.99
- Mac OS 8.1 CD, $59.99
- Mac OS 8.5 CD + 8.6 update, $119.99
- Mac OS 8.5.1, $119.99
- Mac OS 8.6, $159.99
- Mac OS 9.0 CD, $159.99
- Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, $149.99
- Mac OS 9.1 CD, $169.99
- Mac OS 9.2.1 CD, $159.99
- Mac OS 9.2.1 CD with 9.2.2 update. Not for Macs that require 9.2.2. $159.99
Operator Headgap
Shipping charges included. When ordering from Operator Headgap, please let them know you heard about them on Low End Mac when entering your shipping information. Thanks!
- System 6.0.8, HD floppies, $9.99 shipped
- System 6.0.8, 800K floppies, $12.99 shipped
- System 7.1 on 800K floppies, $29.99 shipped
- System 7.5 HD floppies, $19.99 shipped
- System 7.5.3 HD floppies, $39.99 shipped
- Mac OS 7.6 CD, $29.99 shipped
- Mac OS 8.1 CD, $29.99 shipped
- Mac OS 8.5 CD + 8.6 updater, $29.99 shipped
- Mac OS 9.x CD + updaters to 9.1 and 9.2.2, $29.99 shipped, will not boot Quicksilver or earlier, $29.99
- Mac OS 9.0.4 iMac CD with AppleWorks 6.0.3, Adobe Type Manager, Palm Desktop, and more + updates to 9.1 and 9.2.2. $14.99 shipped
- Mac OS 9.2.1 CD + 9.2.2 updater, will not boot Mirrored Drive Doors Power Macs, $49.99 shipped
Classic Apps
- Adobe PageMill 3.0 (Mac OS 8.0 or later), $14.99 shipped
- AppleWorks 6.2.8 CD, $7.99 shipped
- Avid VideoShop 3.0 CD, $19.99 shipped
- Myst CD, requires System 7.0.1 or later, 256 colors or better, $19.99 shipped
Your Mac Store
- Mac OS 9.2.2 CD, will not boot Mirrored Drive Doors Power Macs. $9.95 or 10 for $49.95
We Love Macs OS 7.x – OS 8.x – OS 9.x
- System 7.0 CD, $99.95
- System 7.1 floppies, $99.95
- System 7.1.2 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
- System 7.5 CD, $99.95
- System 7.5.1 CD, $99.95
- System 7.5.3 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
- System 7.5.5 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
- Mac OS 7.6 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
- Mac OS 8.1 CD, Apple version. $79.99
- Mac OS 8.5 CD, $169.95
- Mac OS 9.0 CD, G3 and G4 only, $99.95
- Mac OS 9.0.2 CD plus apps, iBooks only, $79.95
- Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, $149.95
- Mac OS 9.1 CD, $159.95
- Mac OS 9.2.1 update CD (required 9.1), $1.95
- Mac OS 9.2.1 CD, $159.95
- Mac OS 9.2.2 CD, $169.95
Classic Apps
- Adobe PageMill 3 (Mac OS 8.6 or later), $29.95
- Adobe Photoshop 3.0 (System 7.0 or later), $49.95
- Adobe Photoshop 4.0 (System 7.1 or later), $69.95
- Adobe Photoshop 5.5 (Mac OS 7.6, PowerPC Mac), $79.95
- AppleWorks 6.2.4 (Mac OS 8.1 through OS X 10.6.8), $14.95
- iMovie 1.0.2 (Mac OS 8.6 or later), $19.95
- iMovie 2.0.3 (Mac OS 9.1 or later), $39.95
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