| Mac OS 9 | |
| Screenshot Size: | 100px |
| Developer: | Apple Computer Inc. |
| Family: | Mac OS |
| Source Model: | Closed source |
| First Release Date: | October 23 1999 |
| Working State: | Obsolete/Historic/Legacy |
| Release Version: | 9.2.2 |
| Release Date: | December 5 2001 |
| Release Url: | http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75186 |
| Kernel Type: | nanokernel |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | http://www.apple.com/support/macos9/ |
| Support Status: | Unsupported (Internet only) |
| Date: | January 2009 |
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's "Classic" Mac OS. Introduced on October 23 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as iTools, and improved Open Transport networking.
While Mac OS 9 lacks the functionality of a modern operating system, such as protected memory and full pre-emptive multitasking, lasting improvements include the introduction of an automated Software Update engine and support for multiple users.
Apple discontinued development of Mac OS 9 in 2002, transitioning all future development to Mac OS X. Since that time, no updates have been released. The final updates to Mac OS 9 addressed compatibility issues with OS X while running in the Classic Environment and compatibility with Carbon applications.
Apple billed Mac OS 9 as including "50 New Features" and heavily marketed its Sherlock 2 software, which introduced a 'channels' feature for searching different online resources and introduced a QuickTime-like metallic appearance. Mac OS 9 also featured integrated support for Apple’s suite of Internet services known as iTools (later re-branded as .Mac, which is now known as MobileMe) and included improved TCP/IP functionality with Open Transport 2.5.
Other features new to Mac OS 9 include:
PowerPC versions of Mac OS X prior to 10.5 include a compatibility layer called Classic, enabling users to run applications and hardware requiring Mac OS 9 from within Mac OS X. This is achieved through booting a full Mac OS 9 system. As a result, Mac OS 9 must be installed on the computer for Classic to function. Most Mac OS 9 applications run well in Classic, although some applications demonstrate screen redraw problems. In addition, scanner drivers and many other utilities no longer work.
In May 2002, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, Steve Jobs, accompanied by a coffin, held a mock funeral[1] to announce that Apple had stopped development of Mac OS 9. Mac OS 9.2.2, introduced in December 2001, was the final version of Mac OS 9, and the end of the classic Mac OS.
In June 2005, Jobs announced that the Macintosh platform would be transitioning to Intel x86 microprocessors. Developer documentation of the Rosetta PowerPC emulation layer revealed that applications written for Mac OS 8 or 9 would not run on x86-based Macs. The Classic Environment remains in the PowerPC version of Mac OS X 10.4, however x86 versions of OS X do not officially support Classic.
As a workaround for Intel-based Macs, Mac OS 9 can be emulated up to version 9.0.4 by using SheepShaver, a PowerPC emulator. It cannot emulate above 9.0.4 because SheepShaver does not emulate a memory management unit. The PearPC PowerPC emulator does not support Mac OS 9.[2]
Support for Classic in PowerPC versions of Mac OS X was discontinued as of Mac OS X v10.5.
| Version | Release Date | Changes | Codename | Computer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | October 1999 | Initial release | Sonata | |
| 9.0.2 | Shipped with Macs | Bug fixes. | N/A | |
| 9.0.3 | Shipped with Macs | Bug fixes. | N/A | |
| 9.0.4 | April 2000 (download) | Improved USB and FireWire support. Other bug fixes. | Minuet | iMac G3 (slot loading) |
| 9.1 | January 2001 (download) | Integrated Disc Burning within Finder. Implementation of Finder 'Window' menu. Improved stability. | Fortissimo | iBook 14 inch panel |
| 9.2 | Shipped with Macs | G3 processor as minimum system requirement. Improved speed and Classic Environment support. | Moonlight | |
| 9.2.1 | August 2001 (download) | Minor bug fixes. | Limelight | |
| 9.2.2 | December 2001 (download) | Bug fixes relating to Classic Environment. | LU1 | eMac |
Updates to Mac OS 9 include 9.0.4, 9.1, 9.2.1, and 9.2.2. Mac OS 9.0.4 was a collection of bug fixes primarily relating to USB and FireWire support. OS 9.1 included integrated CD burning support in the Macintosh Finder and added a new Window menu in the Finder for switching between open windows. Mac OS 9.2, which required at least a G3 processor, increased performance noticeably.
| Macintosh Model | 9.0[3] | 9.1 | 9.2.1 | 9.2.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Macintosh 6100 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 7100 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 8100 | ||||
| PowerBook 2300 | ||||
| PowerBook 5300 | ||||
| PowerBook 1400 | Password Security unsupported | |||
| PowerBook 3400 | Hard disk driver must not be updated | |||
| Power Macintosh 5200 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 5300 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 5500 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 4400 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 6200 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 6300 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 6400 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 6500 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 7200 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 7300 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 7500 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 8500 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 7600 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 8600 | ||||
| Power Macintosh 9600 | ||||
| Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh | ||||
| PowerBook G3 | ||||
| PowerBook G3 Series | ||||
| PowerBook (FireWire) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| PowerBook G4 | Machine-specific version only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (DVI) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz) | Classic Environment only | |||
| PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz) | Classic Environment only | |||
| iBook | ||||
| iBook (FireWire) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iBook (Dual USB) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iBook (Late 2001) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iBook (14.1 LCD) | ||||
| iBook (16 VRAM) | ||||
| iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM) | ||||
| iBook (32 VRAM) | ||||
| iBook (14.1 LCD 32 VRAM) | ||||
| iBook (Early 2003) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iBook G4 | Classic Environment only | |||
| iBook G4 (14-inch) | Classic Environment only | |||
| iBook G4 (Early 2004) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One | ||||
| Power Macintosh G3 | ||||
| Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) | ||||
| iMac G3 | ||||
| iMac G3 (266 MHz, 333 MHz) | ||||
| iMac G3 (Slot Loading) | ||||
| iMac G3 (Summer 2000) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iMac G3 (Early 2001) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iMac G3 (Summer 2001) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| iMac G4 | ||||
| iMac G4 (February 2003) | Classic Environment only | |||
| iMac G4 (17-inch 1 GHz) | Classic Environment only | |||
| iMac G4 (USB 2.0) | Classic Environment only | |||
| eMac | ||||
| eMac (ATI Graphics CD-ROM drive) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| eMac (ATI Graphics Combo drive) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| eMac (ATI Graphics SuperDrive) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) | ||||
| Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) | ||||
| Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| Power Mac G4 Cube | Machine-specific version only | |||
| Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver) | ||||
| Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| Power Mac G4 (FW 800) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003) | Machine-specific version only | |||
| Power Mac G5 | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Mac G5 (June 2004) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Mac G5 (Early 2005) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) | Classic Environment only | |||
| Mac mini (G4) | Classic Environment only | |||
Retail copies of Mac OS 9 are still available from several Internet businesses at varying prices. Mac OS 9 is no longer available from Apple. Mac OS 9 is not yet classified as abandonware, as it is still in use by those who cannot upgrade to Mac OS X due to hardware limitations, or prefer it to Mac OS X. Mac OS 9 is also a popular choice for retrocomputing hobbyists. Mac gamers also sometime revert to classic in order to play some of the earlier, nonsupported games, for example, StarCraft (and use its map editor, StarEdit), Civilization II, and the Marathon Trilogy.