|
Mac OS 9 is the last version of what has become known as the classic Mac OS, introduced by Apple Computer on October 23, 1999.
Introduced October 1999, MacOS 9 was advertised by Apple as having "50 new features," including Sherlock II, which was a definite improvement over the original Sherlock, sporting a Quicktime-like metallic appearance (which some people detested). Apple also was quick to point out OS 9's 128-bit encryption capabilities. Interestingly, when in the "About This Computer" window, which shows the amount of memory being used, command-clicking on the MacOS 9 picture sends you to Apple's page about their Operating System (www.apple.com/macos).
Codenamed Sonata, and originally intended to debut as MacOS 8.7, MacOS 9 is, by some, considered the most functional and stable version of the original Mac OS, though OS 9 still does not have some features common to modern operating systems, such as protected memory (which, reportedly was implemented in beta versions of MacOS 9.1, but pulled at Steve Jobs' command), and pre-emptive multitasking. However, it did ship from Apple with many improvements over earlier versions, such as improved OpenTransport networking, and an upgraded search tool (Sherlock 2), though it did retain the platinum theme introduced in Mac OS 8. Unlike previous versions, it supports multiple users (University of Chicago, n.d.) without third-party additions. Perhaps most importantly, almost all of OS 9 was written in code which was compatible with PowerPC microprocessors. Earlier versions of the Mac OS depended heavily on emulation of the older Motorola 680x0 series of processors. While most of the code was now PPC-only (indeed, MacOS 9 doesn't run on 68K CPUs), there are still many strings in the System suitcase which make references to obsolete 68K machinery.
Apple updated OS 9 with a series of bugfixes and minor enhancements, most notably versions 9.0.4 and 9.1, in 2000 and 2001. Another update, Mac OS 9.2, was introduced in 2002, but only to improve the functioning of the Classic environment in the new Mac OS X. However, OS 9.2 is a fully functional operating system and can be used on Macs that do not have an OS X-only boot.
In May of 2002, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, Apple CEO Steve Jobs delivered a mock "funeral" for Mac OS 9 during his keynote address, dressed in black and toting a coffin. The purpose of the theatrics was to announce that Apple had stopped all development of OS 9. Mac OS 9.2.2 was the final version of Mac OS 9, and indeed, of the classic Mac OS.
Despite this, Mac OS 9 lives on as the operating system of choice on millions of existing Macintosh computers, and as of June of 2004, was even still being shipped as a stand-alone operating system (along with OS X) on the Power Macintosh G4, only available directly from Apple as a custom to order [CTO] model. Mac OS 9's modernized successor, Mac OS X, still uses OS 9 to provide a compatibility layer called Classic for applications and hardware that expect to be running under OS 9. Apple has provided Carbon, a toolkit for making applications that run natively under OS X and OS 9.
References
External links
|
