OStable

Operating Systems

Macintosh Model

Macintosh OS

Suggested RAM

Typical HD

Comments

Motorola 68000 based machines such as the MacPlus, SE, Classic

System 6.0.8

Min: 1, Better: 4

0-40Mb

Final version of the original black and white graphical user interface. Multi-finder optional.

68020 or 68030 Macs such as the SE/30, Mac II, MacLC, LCII, LCIII

System 7.1

Min: 4, Better: 8

40-80Mb

Starting with System 7.0, first color user interface, personal file sharing, labels, TrueType fonts.

68040 Macs such as the LC475, Centris and Quadra models, and Performas with a 3-digit model number

System 7.6.1

Min: 8, Better: 16

120-230Mb

Starting with 7.5, hierarchical menus, desktop printers, menu clock, stickies.

Any Performa with a 4-digit model number and PowerPC machines with a 601 processor such as the 6100, 7100

Mac OS 8.1

Min: 16, Better: 32

250-500Mb

Starting with 8.0, 3-D icons, platinum appearance, sticky menus, desktop pictures, spring-loaded folders, contextual menus, multi-threading, HFS+

Any 603 or 604 based PowerPC and most of the short lived Mac clones.

Mac OS 8.6

Min: 32, Better: 64

1Gb-2Gb

Starting with 8.5, Sherlock search engine, appearance themes, application strip, network time synchronization.

G3 and G4 machines such as the iMac, iBook, PowerBook G3 and G4 and PowerMac G3, G4.

Mac OS 9.2.2

Min: 32, Better: 64

2Gb-6Gb

Multiple users, voice password, Internet file sharing, file encryption, language kits, iApplications

G3 or better is required to run OS X, and a non-beige model is preferable. G3 and G4 upgrade cards may work with a software patch but are unsupported. You'd better buy a lot of RAM!!!

Mac OS X (version 10.1)

Min: 64, Better:128+

6Gb+

Preemptive multitasking, protected memory, Aqua interface, Quartz graphics, BSD UNIX inside. Classic mode for backward compatibility. Takes a lot of getting used to for the classic Mac fan.

A G3 will work, but a G4 is preferred.

Mac OS X (version 10.2)

Min: 128, Better: 256+

10Gb+

Performance enhancements, stability improvements, interface improvements. New iApps are X only!

PC or Clone Model

PC OS (Consumer)

Consumer Comments

PC OS (Professional)

Pro User Comments

IBM XT (Intel 8086) and AT (80286)

DOS

Use a shell program to hide the command line

DOS

It's ugly, but what choice do you have?

Machines with a 386 or 486 processor. PC clones rising in popularity.

Windows 3.1

Memory management still a headache

DOS

Windows is prettier but DOS is still the power user's choice.

Pentium, Pentium II, or Pentium III or equivalent Cyrix or AMD processor.

Windows 95

Finally, a version of Windows that's worth owning!

Windows NT

Finally, a stable server OS! But it's complex and lacks drivers for most peripherals.

Pentium, Pentium II, or Pentium III or equivalent Cyrix or AMD processor.

Windows 98

Similar to Win 95 but with better USB support and a browser like file manager called the Windows Explorer

Windows NT 4

Gradual addition of drivers for 3rd party peripherals, small upgrades in performance

Pentium II, Pentium III or P4 or equivalent processor.

Windows Me (mellenium)

Evolved from 98

Windows 2000

Major interface changes, solid and stable but complex.

Pentium III or P4 or equivalent processor.

Windows XP Home

A dumbed down XP Pro (but now based on the pro line , so more stable)

Windows XP Pro

More interface changes but not much else new.

Macintosh Model	Macintosh OS	Suggested RAM	Typical HD	Comments
Motorola 68000 based machines such as the MacPlus, SE, Classic	System 6.0.8	Min: 1, Better: 4	0-40Mb	Final version of the original black and white graphical user interface. Multi-finder optional.
68020 or 68030 Macs such as the SE/30, Mac II, MacLC, LCII, LCIII	System 7.1	Min: 4, Better: 8	40-80Mb	Starting with System 7.0, first color user interface, personal file sharing, labels, TrueType fonts.
68040 Macs such as the LC475, Centris and Quadra models, and Performas with a 3-digit model number	System 7.6.1	Min: 8, Better: 16	120-230Mb	Starting with 7.5, hierarchical menus, desktop printers, menu clock, stickies.
Any Performa with a 4-digit model number and PowerPC machines with a 601 processor such as the 6100, 7100	Mac OS 8.1	Min: 16, Better: 32	250-500Mb	Starting with 8.0, 3-D icons, platinum appearance, sticky menus, desktop pictures, spring-loaded folders, contextual menus, multi-threading, HFS+
Any 603 or 604 based PowerPC and most of the short lived Mac clones.	Mac OS 8.6	Min: 32, Better: 64	1Gb-2Gb	Starting with 8.5, Sherlock search engine, appearance themes, application strip, network time synchronization.
G3 and G4 machines such as the iMac, iBook, PowerBook G3 and G4 and PowerMac G3, G4.	Mac OS 9.2.2	Min: 32, Better: 64	2Gb-6Gb	Multiple users, voice password, Internet file sharing, file encryption, language kits, iApplications
G3 or better is required to run OS X, and a non-beige model is preferable. G3 and G4 upgrade cards may work with a software patch but are unsupported. You'd better buy a lot of RAM!!!	Mac OS X (version 10.1)	Min: 64, Better:128+	6Gb+	Preemptive multitasking, protected memory, Aqua interface, Quartz graphics, BSD UNIX inside. Classic mode for backward compatibility. Takes a lot of getting used to for the classic Mac fan.
A G3 will work, but a G4 is preferred.	Mac OS X (version 10.2)	Min: 128, Better: 256+	10Gb+	Performance enhancements, stability improvements, interface improvements. New iApps are X only!

PC or Clone Model	PC OS (Consumer)	Consumer Comments	PC OS (Professional)	Pro User Comments
IBM XT (Intel 8086) and AT (80286)	DOS	Use a shell program to hide the command line	DOS	It's ugly, but what choice do you have?
Machines with a 386 or 486 processor. PC clones rising in popularity.	Windows 3.1	Memory management still a headache	DOS	Windows is prettier but DOS is still the power user's choice.
Pentium, Pentium II, or Pentium III or equivalent Cyrix or AMD processor.	Windows 95	Finally, a version of Windows that's worth owning!	Windows NT	Finally, a stable server OS! But it's complex and lacks drivers for most peripherals.
Pentium, Pentium II, or Pentium III or equivalent Cyrix or AMD processor.	Windows 98	Similar to Win 95 but with better USB support and a browser like file manager called the Windows Explorer	Windows NT 4	Gradual addition of drivers for 3rd party peripherals, small upgrades in performance
Pentium II, Pentium III or P4 or equivalent processor.	Windows Me (mellenium)	Evolved from 98	Windows 2000	Major interface changes, solid and stable but complex.
Pentium III or P4 or equivalent processor.	Windows XP Home	A dumbed down XP Pro (but now based on the pro line , so more stable)	Windows XP Pro	More interface changes but not much else new.