A Question of OS
What OS to run on your Mac?
Why not go OS 9 on a Power Mac?
Why wait for OS X?
- 2000.06.16
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core 8GB kit $232 / 4GB kit $116 / 2GB kit $72. New Macbook 2GB DDR3-$65. HARD DRIVES available -- Free shipping / LIfetime warranty.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
I pity G4 users. Sure, I want the graphics, the speed, and the cool graphite case, but there is something I don't want - something that sits in a corner of the hard drive, taking up memory and slowing down your system.
No, isn't a program made by Microsoft; it is made by Apple. It is called Mac OS 9. Although Mac OS 9 has some excellent features, it takes up 22-32 MB of memory, versus Mac OS 8.6, which takes only 14-18 MB.
Mac OS 9 does not work well on anything below a fast PowerPC 603e. If you have a slower Mac - the x200 series or x100 series - I don't recommend it.
Perhaps the new features in OS 9, like Multiple Users, Software Update, Sherlock II, and the key chain are the problems. Take them away, and you really just have a bloated Mac OS 8.6. Sure, 9's features are great, but is it worth 24 MB of RAM and over 200 MB of hard disk space just to use these few features?
I don't think so.
If you have several people using the computer, OS 9 might be a good idea so you can use the Multiple users control panel. But why not just use Apple's long forgotten product that first shipped with Performas, At Ease? It works fine from System 7 through Mac OS 8.6.
I have used Macs since the 80s, and I have used almost every operating system from System 6 all the way up to 9. I have chosen my favourites very carefully, based on what is included in them, how much memory they use, etc.
System 7.1 & 7.5.3
You may notice I recommend 7.1 for some machines. You may say,
"why not use 7.0, or 7.0.1?" but there is a good reason for using
7.1. Despite some bug fixes, 7.1 is 
also
usually among the minimum requirements for some software programs.
It is also the last operating system that works well with such Macs
as the LC, LC
II, and Colour Classic.
You may also notice that I recommend 7.5 for some machines. The reason is that, while it is a more advanced operating system than 7.1, 7.5 doesn't use as much memory as 7.5.3 does, and you can still use Open Transport and programs requiring 7.5 without using as much hard disk space and RAM.
For information on compact Macs, see my article What can you squeeze into a compact Mac?
If you have a Macintosh II or LC with no more than 2 MB of RAM, use System 6.0.8. If you have 4 MB or more, use 7.1. Using System 7.5 slows down the computer, although 7.5 can be used if you have a PMMU and a decent amount of memory (at least 16 MB) in your Mac II.
If you have an LC II, you can use System 6.0.8L, if you want to
use System 6, but I like System 7.1. If you have a Performa 400,
405, or 410, it came with 7.0.1P, but you may use standard System
7.0.1 or 7.1 with no problem. You will just lose the "Performa
features," like the Launcher, hidden desktop "while in background,"
and "About this Computer." In place of "About this Computer" you
will see "About this Macintosh." 
There you
will see "Macintosh LC" (they are Performa-ized Mac LC IIs) where
the Apple logo used to be.
If you have a Macintosh LC III, LC III+, LC 520, or LC 550 with no more than 8 MB of memory, you can use System 7.1 with the correct system enabler. If you have at least 8 MB, you can use 7.5. If you have 12 MB or more, 7.5.3 or 7.6.1 works fine (try to get an FPU if you will be running 7.6.1).
If you use any type of Quadra, Centris, or '040/'LC040 based Performa or LC, you must use 7.1 or higher with the correct system enabler. Some came with 7.5. Although they can run 8.1, I recommend 7.6.1. For more information, see my Options for '040's.
Mac OS 8.0 & 8.1
For a PowerPC-based machine, it is well worth the effort to buy and install Mac OS 8 or 8.1. Mac OS 8 provided PowerPC-native Finder support, which means that your Power Mac will run the Mac OS 8 Finder in PowerPC code, making it faster. Mac OS 8.5 or higher is totally PowerPC native, and if you have 32 MB of memory or more, 8.5 may make your Mac feel even faster than with OS 8.
I recommend against 8.5 or higher if you have a Power Mac 6100 or a member of the x200 series. The exception is the 6360, which will run 8.5 with no problems. If you opt to buy 8.5, make sure you download the 8.6 update from Apple. It fixes some bugs, and even displays the system version on startup.
Mac OS 9
Even though the bloated, problematic Mac OS 9 is the current Mac OS, I still hold my hopes high for Mac OS X. If it is as good as people say it is, it will become the standard in operating systems. Maybe other OSes will be built to imitate it, much like Microsoft tried to imitate the Mac OS with Windows.
I think OS X is the OS that the world is waiting for.
Recent Apple Archive articles
- iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
- Options for replacing your older iPod, 11.19. Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
- Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 11.14. The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
- Leopard different, a bit buggy, but worth the upgrade, 11.02. Leopard on a Power Mac G4 and a MacBook Pro: It runs well on both computers, but each has some odd bugs, and some of the changes are a step backwards.
- More in the Apple Archive index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 'Sawtooth' Power Mac G4, Aug. 1999 - Available in speeds from 350-500 MHz, 'Sawtooth' introduced AGP video to the Mac.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- The Long Term Value of a High End Mac, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 11.21. Low-end Macs are more affordable up front, but the flexibility and upgrade options of a top-end Mac can make it the better value in the long run.
- iPhone #1 Worldwide, Google Voice Search for iPhone, iPhone 3G Battery Pack, and More, iNews Review, 11.21. Also British accents throw off Google voice search, lots of new iPhone apps, universal USB car charger, new protective cases, and more.
- 15 Reasons Macs Are Better, Quad-core iMac in January?, USB 3.0 Spec Finalized, and More, Mac News Review, 11.21. Also 25 years of Macs, 'Snow Leopard' in Q1?, SimpleTech's faster and greener hard drive, Hyperspaces, StarOffice for OS X, and more.
- DisplayPort Copy Protection, Trackpad Update, Netbooks Not to Be Taken Lightly, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.21. Also Apple set for record sales, 4-finger gestures on original MacBook Air, MacBook Apple's best consumer notebook to date, Cricket laptop stand, bargain 'Books from $490 to $2,299, and more.
- Virtualization Shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
- Just Right: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear MacBooks, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 11.20. Some people like small and light notebooks, others prefer huge desktop replacements, but the best value tends to be in the middle.
- Apple Caves to Hollywood with DRM on iTunes Videos, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. HDCP on the new MacBooks means that you may never really own those videos you buy from the iTunes Store.
- Leopard Runs Very Nicely on PowerPC Macs, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 11.19. Some claim that Mac OS X 10.5 is so optimized for Intel Macs that it runs poorly on PowerPC hardware. That's simply not the case.
- No High Definition iTunes Video for You, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 11.19. The October 2008 MacBooks are preventing users from viewing some high-def iTunes content from being viewed on their external displays. Poor form!
- Every Working Computer Is Useful to Someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
- 3 WeatherBug Options for Apple Users, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.19. Have instant access to current local weather conditions with a Dashboard widget, iPhone app, or Firefox plugin.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used 400 MHz, $50; 733, $100; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, $300; 800 MHz dual, $200, 867, $300; 1 GHz, $350; 1.42, $400.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, 11.20. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 800 CD, $180; 600 CD-RW, $240; 700 Combo, $290; 900, $369; 14" 600, $360; 900, $449.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 11.20. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
- Best iMac G4 Deals, 11.18. Used 15" 700 MHz Combo, $243; 800 MHz, $280; 1 GHz, $380; 17" 1.25 GHz SuperDrive, $400; 20", $549.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.18. New 1.6 80, $1,150 after rebate; 120, $1,744 a/r; 1.8 80, $1,794 a/r; 1.6 128 SSD, $2,150; used 1.8 64 SSD, $1,500; new, $2,200 a/r; 1.86, $2,398 a/r.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, 11.18. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $58; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- Best iPod nano Deals, 11.17. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $114; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $125; 3G/8 GB, from $134; 16 GB, from $189. Prices include ground shipping.
- Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.17. Used 1 GHz with SuperDrive, $478 plus shipping.
- Best Xserve deals, 11.17. Used G4/1 GHz, $999; G5/2 GHz, $1,288; new 2.0 4-core Xeon, $1,900; refurb 3.0 4-core, $2,599; 2.8 GHz, $2,499; 3.0 8-core, $3,499.
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
