Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

dpaanlka · Feb 24, 2006, 02:14 PM

Some of you asked for it, so since MacNN officially does not want you to talk about pre-G3 Macs or Mac OS 7 here, I have finally set up a forum (on my own servers, not at some free forum service with ads) to go along side my site System 7 Today where you can talk about Mac OS 7 to your hearts content...

I will always be there so I will probably personally answer any questions or anything like that regarding Mac OS 7. I'd like to hear from anyone out there that still has any machine running Mac OS 7.

I must say I'm surprised at the response to my site, it already gets a lot of hits and I get emails all the time. Hopefully a forum there will be as well received.

mindwaves · Feb 24, 2006, 02:29 PM

Very nice site. I love the layout and the pictures. Simply amazing. If I had a Mac which is capable of handling System 7, then that would be the site to go to.

ReggieX · Feb 24, 2006, 02:49 PM

Why are you prejudiced against MacOS 8!

Jim Paradise · Feb 24, 2006, 02:55 PM

Ah, memories. We had an old LC 475 that was the computer we had at our house up until a G4 was purchased back in late 1999 (though owing to Motorola's problems, it didn't arrive until early January 2000).

This past summer, I managed to get an old LC 475. The only problem is that it didn't come with system disks, but everything works like a charm. However, I do have a few disk images from that old Apple FTP where you could download System 7 and whatnot.

the_glassman · Feb 24, 2006, 02:58 PM

Wow, awesome! You've got me looking on eBay to find a an older system so I can give one to my mom as gift.
Which Mac's/Clones would be best to run system 7?
Also what is the best mail program?

teknopimp · Feb 24, 2006, 03:00 PM

sweet. maybe i'll finally put this thing to good use:

...or at least get some good games for it.

teknopimp · 10:09 PM

[d/p]

baw · Feb 24, 2006, 03:31 PM

What?

Kevin · Feb 24, 2006, 03:42 PM

This is what I remember about System 7 (I know the image is of 8+ but I couldn't find such a screenshot)

Esp 7.5

dpaanlka · Feb 24, 2006, 03:57 PM

Then you probably didn't use 7.6.1 alot.

And yes, if you call Apple and ask for the software, that is how much it costs. Not worth doing at all obviously when you can find it on eBay so much cheaper.

the_glassman · Feb 24, 2006, 04:08 PM

Can't you just download it for free from here?
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple...intosh/System/

Kevin · Feb 24, 2006, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by dpaanlka

Then you probably didn't use 7.6.1 alot.

I used it the WHOLE time it was the latest OS. It wasn't as bad as 7.5, but it still sucked.

olePigeon · Feb 24, 2006, 04:26 PM

I have a lot of older games that only run on older Mac OSes. I've scanned the manuals and everything as PDFs, plus Disk Copy 4 disk images. You should add an Abandonware section, but more complete than Underdogs. Most of Underdog's stuff is just Stuffit archive the game folder already registered to some bloke with hacked high scores. I like fresh copies of software with the manual.

dpaanlka · Feb 24, 2006, 05:55 PM

No, you cannot download it for free. The free version is 7.5.5. 7.6.1 is quite different under the hood, and is not free sadly.

As for stability, all versions of the classic Mac OS crashed alot compared to Mac OS X. If you're running a pre-G3 Mac, you don't have much choice there.

7.5 was terrible. 8.5 was terrible. A proper install of 7.6.1 is not any worse than 9.1 stability wise. And it's much faster.

dpaanlka · Feb 24, 2006, 05:56 PM

As for software and stuff, I'm really trying to focus on the latest versions of everything for Mac OS 7... like 7.6.1 itself, Internet Explorer 5, LaserWriter 8.6, QuickTime 5, etc...

Makes it run and feel the most modern!

bradoesch · Feb 24, 2006, 06:56 PM

I can't believe IE 5 runs on System 7. That's crazy.

I fired up a SuperMac clone computer today for the first time. It was running 7.6. It's been a while since I've even seen 7.

CharlesS · Feb 24, 2006, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by dpaanlka

7.5 was terrible. 8.5 was terrible. A proper install of 7.6.1 is not any worse than 9.1 stability wise. And it's much faster.

In fact, 7.6.1 was a hell of a lot better than 9.1 stability wise. In my experience, it was more stable than any version of the classic OS that came after it, and much better than 7.5.anything...

dpaanlka · 02:54 AM

I agree, in my honest opinion 7.6.1 feels a lot more stable than OS 9. The process of testing software for that site has me running a small lab of macs running Mac OS 7.6.1, and every single one of them feels more stable than they ever were with Mac OS 9.1.

Internet Explorer 5 runs on Mac OS 7.6.1, up to version 5.01 (which is hard to find, but luckily for all you is on my site). I thought it was pretty amazing too, when I first stumbled across that in the Read Me file. Here is a screen shot:

removed oversize image - OreoCookie

Eriamjh · Feb 24, 2006, 09:18 PM

Did Apple ever call it "Mac OS 7" or even "Mac OS 7.5"? They did call it "Mac OS 7.6" as the eBay CDs prove. Therefore to refer to it as Mac OS 7 without the .6 would be inaccurate.

It's like calling Mac OSX "OS 10" or System X or System 10, etc.

dpaanlka · Feb 24, 2006, 09:26 PM

I'm sure I've seen it referred to as Mac OS 7 somewhere.

Regardless, I think people will know what I'm talking about. I prefer to refer to it as Mac OS 7, because "System 7" sounds like such a throwback to ancient times.

Besies, doesn't it still say "Mac OS" when booting System 7.5.2 (or something) and higher?

I just happened to have registered System7Today for an older site I was doing.

ironknee · Feb 24, 2006, 09:42 PM

i remember system 7 as a big deal...color icons! i remember something that shows you what apps were system 7 ready. that was scary for a little bit cause we would have to buy new versions...or something

after my brief love affair with the color icons, i set the look to classic (?) black and white icons. i wrote susan kare telling her my preference for her original icons and she wrote back thanking me...

Chuckit · Feb 24, 2006, 10:07 PM

It was first called "Mac OS 7" in one of the System 7 updates. I'm wanting to say 7.6. System 7.0 was not called Mac OS, but later versions called it Mac OS.

dpaanlka · Feb 24, 2006, 10:11 PM

I was almost certain it was in one of the 7.5 updates.

MindFad · Feb 24, 2006, 10:24 PM

That picture on the About page is a winner.

Rolling Bones · Feb 24, 2006, 11:10 PM

7.5.3

Lateralus · Feb 24, 2006, 11:30 PM

In my opinion, these are the finest Mac OS release in chronological order;

System 6.0.8
Mac OS 7.6.1
Mac OS 8.6
Mac OS 10.3

dpaanlka · Feb 25, 2006, 12:53 AM

Mac OS 7.6.1 was by far the best System 7 version.

I didn't like any of the 8s or 9s really.

To me I liked the simple plain look of System 7 better.

6.0.8 was pretty great on my IIsi.

CharlesS · Feb 25, 2006, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

Did Apple ever call it "Mac OS 7" or even "Mac OS 7.5"? They did call it "Mac OS 7.6" as the eBay CDs prove. Therefore to refer to it as Mac OS 7 without the .6 would be inaccurate.

Yep, 7.5.3 said "Mac OS" when booting:

angelmb · Feb 25, 2006, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Yep, 7.5.3 said "Mac OS" when booting:

and then the 'About This Macintosh' says System Software

-Same Basilik soft under the mighty powerful IRIX-

Kevin · Feb 25, 2006, 05:54 AM

I loved 9.1

It was the most stable non-OS X version of MacOS I have ran.

I had it really flying on my 350mhz G3. Stable too, would only crash a few times a week.

I am going to blame me not liking 7.6 too well on the fact I was running it on a 6205 Poopforma.

Super Mario · Feb 25, 2006, 07:12 AM

System 7.6 was my first. Nice memories of migrating from Windows to Mac.

Eriamjh · Feb 25, 2006, 07:50 AM

I have read that 7.5 was awfully buggy. I have reaqd that 7.6.1, while stable, required a lot more memory than 7.5.5, the last pre-7.6 upgrade.

Kevin · Feb 25, 2006, 07:54 AM

You heard correctly.

t6hawk · Feb 25, 2006, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Yep, 7.5.3 said "Mac OS" when booting:

How did you get Basilisk II to work? I've never gotten it to run.

Busemann · Feb 25, 2006, 09:15 AM

+

=

Mastrap · Feb 25, 2006, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Busemann

I had one of those. What a piece of junk that was.
Software modem, uuuurgh.

t6hawk · Feb 25, 2006, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

I had one of those. What a piece of junk that was.
Software modem, uuuurgh.

My PM6500 worked great for me. I actually was able to tweak the 33.6 modem to do 5k/s+. The one thing i liked was the subwoofer that was built into the case.

wdlove · Feb 25, 2006, 11:16 AM

Very nice idea, it brings back many memories. Mostly positive.

dpaanlka · Feb 25, 2006, 12:06 PM

My full installs of 7.6.1 take around 7mb of RAM. 8mb with SpeedDoubler 8 (for speeding up 68k emulation and hard drive caching). That's still better than any version of 8 and obviously 9.

Also, I loved my 6500 as well. I never use the modem, though, but I wouldn't call an entire machine terrible because of the modem. It's AV features are excellent! Love the TV tuner.

goMac · Feb 25, 2006, 12:46 PM

My parents had a 6500/250. Worst machine to ever come out of Apple. I loved my 7300/200 I had at the time though.

Busemann · Feb 25, 2006, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by dpaanlka

Also, I loved my 6500 as well. I never use the modem, though, but I wouldn't call an entire machine terrible because of the modem. It's AV features are excellent! Love the TV tuner.

My family had the 6400. If it weren't for the fact that it took 20 odd minutes to boot up (just thinking about those extensions loading up one by one makes me cry inside), crashed at least once a day, felt slow as molasses from day one and cost close to $3000, an excellent machine.

dpaanlka · Feb 25, 2006, 02:15 PM

I 100% guarantee that if you sit down in front of any 6400 or 6500 with a fresh install of Mac OS 7.6.1, it will feel like one of the fastest computers you've ever used.

Same cannot be said for 5200/5300 machines, but that's because they had a 68k motherboard with a PowerPC soldered on. The 6400 and 6500 were new designs.

goMac · Feb 25, 2006, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by dpaanlka

I 100% guarantee that if you sit down in front of any 6400 or 6500 with a fresh install of Mac OS 7.6.1, it will feel like one of the fastest computers you've ever used.

Same cannot be said for 5200/5300 machines, but that's because they had a 68k motherboard with a PowerPC soldered on. The 6400 and 6500 were new designs.

My parents 6500 wouldn't stop randomly erasing it's hard drive until 8.5.

t6hawk · Feb 25, 2006, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

My parents 6500 wouldn't stop randomly erasing it's hard drive until 8.5.

That was actually a known problem with the Quantum Fireball 3GB hard drive that it had. For the first while mine would do it then some fix came out for it and it has been stable ever since.

The TV Tuner and software in the 6500 has to be the most stable and reliable package I've EVER used. Apple did a fantastic job on it.

dpaanlka · Feb 25, 2006, 05:30 PM

Apple's TV Tuner and related A/V features were pretty great. I wish they had something like that now.