April 7, 1997: Apple’s System 7 working system receives its final replace with the delivery of Mac OS 7.6.1.
The replace brings just a few bug fixes and help for Apple’s new PCI Energy Macs and the PowerBook 3400. Most significantly, it marks the tip of the System 7 period, which dawned means again in 1991.
Mac OS System 7
In contrast to right now, after we obtain an ostensibly new model of macOS yearly, issues moved at a slower tempo within the Nineties. System 7 arrived in Could 1991, bringing some nice options and introducing QuickTime to Macs.
It was the primary Apple working system out there on compact discs. (Prospects additionally might get it on a set of 15 floppies. Bear in mind these?) System 7 was additionally the Mac working system that ultimately confronted off in opposition to the world-conquering (at the least by way of recognition) Home windows 95.
Earlier than Home windows 95 hit cabinets on August 24, 1995, Cupertino workers rode round with bumper stickers studying, “Home windows 95 = Macintosh ’89.” The joke likened Microsoft’s new working system to a 4-year-old Mac OS.
The Mac OS 7.6 replace, which Apple launched on January 7, 1997, introduced with it a reputation change from “System 7” to “Mac OS.” It additionally added digital reminiscence and reminiscence administration, a brand new caching system for File Supervisor, PowerPC Useful resource Supervisor routines, and efficiency enhancements.
In contrast to right now’s free macOS updates, customers who wished System 7.6.1 paid for it — even when they already purchased an earlier model of System 7. Contemplating that it added solely minor enhancements, this turned a degree of competition.
The search for one thing new
Inside Apple, System 7’s days had been numbered for a while by early 1997. Ever since March 1994, Apple talked up the working system’s follow-up. Named “Copland,” Apple envisioned it as a full top-to-bottom rethink of Mac OS.
Nonetheless, Copland was by no means launched past a beta model in November 1995. Apple continued rolling again the timeline for the total launch, and the undertaking’s funds swelled as “characteristic creep” set in. By 1996, Apple employed 500 engineers engaged on Copland. However then-CEO Gil Amelio canceled Copland after Apple suffered a staggering $700 million quarterly loss.
Cupertino’s want to introduce a substitute working system continued, nonetheless. That quest in the end led to Apple buying NeXT for its NeXTSTEP working system (then referred to as OpenStep). This resulted in Steve Jobs returning to Apple, and in the end displacing Amelio as CEO.
Mac OS 7.6.1: The clone Mac period’s final gasp
Within the meantime, nonetheless, Apple had a very good (if barely underhanded) purpose for abandoning System 7 and changing it with Mac OS 8, which shipped just a few months after Mac OS 7.6.1 on July 26, 1997.
That replace got here on the top of the “clone Mac” period. Apple had licensed Mac OS to a choose few firms like Energy Computing and Radius to attempt to increase Mac market share. Nonetheless, this flawed technique truly price Apple cash. The $50 payment Apple obtained for each clone Mac offered didn’t come near recouping the cash misplaced from individuals shopping for third-party Macs as a substitute of more-expensive official ones.
In consequence, Apple determined to launch its subsequent working system replace as “Mac OS 8” as a substitute of “Mac OS 7.7.” This title change meant Cupertino might finish its offers with clone-makers, for the reason that agreements signed with them solely prolonged to System 7 updates. By calling the replace Mac OS 8, Apple figured it might negotiate new, extra favorable phrases with third events licensing its working system.
For a good deeper take a look at System 7.6.1, try this web site. Do you bear in mind utilizing it on the time? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
