3 ms·

I still use OS 9 almost every week on a Powermac 1999 . The reason is that my drum scanner requires a card/driver/app that wasn't ported to OSX and won't run un

by kawera 11y ago

I still use OS 9 almost every week on a Powermac 1999 . The reason is that my drum scanner requires a card/driver/app that wasn't ported to OSX and won't run under "Classic Mode". Everything works perfectly, including original keyboard and mouse! [edit] Wrongly cited Rosetta, a PPC to x86 translator. "Classic" allowed OS9 apps to run on OSX.

gh02t 11y ago
It's no wonder it still works... those Powermacs were built like tanks. In high school my physics teacher accidentally smacked one with a baseball bat and it fell down off a counter, but after we picked it up it worked fine, with little more than a scuff on the side.
- kawera 11y ago
  They are tough, largely overbuilt systems that seems indestructible. I have a few old systems in a closet (SGI, DEC, SUN, NEXT) and always wondered why they'd build computers like that, I mean, they weren't made to last for more than a few years. And they sound like... private jets!
charlesism 11y ago
I think by "Rosetta", you meant to write "Classic mode" right? I use an app called SheepShaver (think it's Basilisk uunder the hood) to run OS 9, and it works pretty well. I doubt it has support for USB or SCSI, but maybe it's worth investigating.
- kawera 11y ago
  You are right, Classic not Rosetta. Thanks for SheepShaver but at this point I am a bit wary of touching my working but possibly fragile system.
  - charlesism 11y ago
    Fair enough. Not much gain in changing a setup that has served you fine for a decade+.
agumonkey 11y ago
Ohh you just reminded me I recently got this 98 era desktop, and I can finally plug back that old backup tape reader from my first computer. 500MB time capsule that I hope is still in order.
ics 11y ago
Same, except it's for a particular CAD program. Too many scary quirks under Classic and so now I've even got an old titanium PowerBook like in the article for when either the old Mac Classic or dome iMac (which dual boots OS 9 and X) dies.
Gravityloss 11y ago
I already know a Tascam audio interface won't be supported in El Capitan, at least no drivers beyond Mavericks have appeared and they don't list it as compatible. So I can never upgrade unless I'm willing to spend several hundred dollars for a new audio interface. Doesn't seem worth it.

by kawera 11y ago

gh02t 11y ago

It's no wonder it still works... those Powermacs were built like tanks. In high school my physics teacher accidentally smacked one with a baseball bat and it fell down off a counter, but after we picked it up it worked fine, with little more than a scuff on the side.

kawera 11y ago
They are tough, largely overbuilt systems that seems indestructible. I have a few old systems in a closet (SGI, DEC, SUN, NEXT) and always wondered why they'd build computers like that, I mean, they weren't made to last for more than a few years. And they sound like... private jets!

charlesism 11y ago

I think by "Rosetta", you meant to write "Classic mode" right? I use an app called SheepShaver (think it's Basilisk uunder the hood) to run OS 9, and it works pretty well. I doubt it has support for USB or SCSI, but maybe it's worth investigating.

kawera 11y ago
You are right, Classic not Rosetta. Thanks for SheepShaver but at this point I am a bit wary of touching my working but possibly fragile system.
- charlesism 11y ago
  Fair enough. Not much gain in changing a setup that has served you fine for a decade+.

agumonkey 11y ago

Ohh you just reminded me I recently got this 98 era desktop, and I can finally plug back that old backup tape reader from my first computer. 500MB time capsule that I hope is still in order.

ics 11y ago

Same, except it's for a particular CAD program. Too many scary quirks under Classic and so now I've even got an old titanium PowerBook like in the article for when either the old Mac Classic or dome iMac (which dual boots OS 9 and X) dies.

Gravityloss 11y ago

I already know a Tascam audio interface won't be supported in El Capitan, at least no drivers beyond Mavericks have appeared and they don't list it as compatible. So I can never upgrade unless I'm willing to spend several hundred dollars for a new audio interface. Doesn't seem worth it.