platinum said:
you know: it felt like it was running slower than it was supposed to be.
but just to clarify, there is absolutely NO way to run OS 9.x.x on the mac mini? i don't mind buyin an OS 9.x.x disc from ebay or something. in fact, i found an OS 9.x.x restore CD on ebay. would it work with the mac mini?
If you wish to experiment; do not under any circumstances use a restore CD from another Mac, you will more than likely really screw things up. That CD will be customised to the hardware of the Mac its the restore CD for and likelihood it won't work, and cause nasty problems.
Also bear in mind OS 9 is about five years old and whilst I can see your point about the user interface (e.g.: italics for alias', icons spaced closer together in the old Finder etc.), bear in mind you will be severely limited to what applications you can run.
You will not for example be able to use any of the iLife suite on OS9.
You will not be able to run the latest versions of Adobe's, Microsoft's, Macromedia's, Corel's... etc. and most modern freeware will not run on OS9.
OS 9 and earlier is a completely different Operating System here compared to Mac OS X. We're certainly not talking what Windows 98 was to Windows 95. In some essences we're not even talking what Windows NT/2000/XP is to Windows 9x! They are very different systems, and you will miss out on a lot of the fantastic software written for OS X.
I consider myself a power user, and admittedly I do like OS X's layout and look (wish it was a bit more consistent at times but anyways), but iLife is a consumer app and I find iPhoto a real joy to use, organising all my photos, creating slideshows and burning them - it's great fun and to miss out on some of the best computer software for the sake of operating system aesthetics -- would be a shame.
What I suggest to you, is to perhaps go on eBay and search out and old Power Macintosh, not a Performa 5xxx as they were nasty machines (but all in one...) such as what I have a 7200, or ideally a 7300 and run OS 8.x or 9.x on that. That way you will not spend very much at all, you will have a old Mac OS machine which you can gauge whether you really like it, and if you do, you can install some pre-OS X apps on that. E.g.: I have Word 5 on my my 7200.
If this isn't an option, then maybe you would want to try Basilisk II, the Mac OS X version to emulate an old 680x0 Macintosh from 1994 and earlier on your Mac Mini, which will run up to OS 8.1 (looks the same as 9.x), but again, even more limited for software options.
Either way you will need at least OS 8.6 for USB functionality (though only at 12Mbit/s - USB 1.1, you will need OS X for USB 2, 10.2 rings a bell..) and Mac OS 9.0.4 (iirc) for Firewire 400 support.
In summary, give OS X a chance and if you don't like it, stick with using Classic and purchase older OS 9 apps which you can launch such as MS Office 2001/98/4.2.1, Photoshop 7 for OS 9 and earlier and so forth, that way your apps will have the older OS 9 'Copland' look, but you will still have OS X compatibility.
if you have the room, get an old Power Macintosh, you can pick them up for peanuts, I got offer a 7300/180 the other week for £5 with keyboard, mouse and 16" apple monitor - shame; I'd of taken it but I have no room. (It also had 256MB of RAM!)
i think you do have a point for those who do want something without the eye candy... :flower: That said, I prefer the OS X interface to the older OS, but I still love System 7.x's and OS 8/9's look.
And sorry for repeating what everyone else said last night - I got distracted half way through replying, came back, finished and found you had excellent answers already :flower:
Vicky