System 7

System 7
Version of the classic Mac OS operating system
Screenshot of Mac OS 7.6.1
DeveloperApple Computer
OS familyMacintosh
Working stateHistoric
Source modelClosed source
Initial releaseMay 13, 1991; 33 years ago (1991-05-13)
Latest release7.6.1 / April 7, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-04-07)
PlatformsMotorola 68k series, PowerPC (since 7.1.2)
Kernel typeMonolithic (68k),
nanokernel (PowerPC)
LicenseProprietary
Preceded bySystem 6
Succeeded byMac OS 8
Official websiteMac OS Releases at the Wayback Machine (archived April 12, 1997)
TaglineIt's powerful, it's easy to use-it's the new operating system for your Macintosh.
Support status
Historical, unsupported as of May 2001

System 7 (later named Mac OS 7) is the seventh major release of the classic Mac OS operating system for Macintosh computers, made by Apple Computer. It was launched on May 13, 1991, to succeed System 6 with virtual memory, personal file sharing, QuickTime, TrueType fonts, the Force Quit dialog, and an improved user interface.[1][2]

It was code-named "Big Bang" in development and the initial release was named "The System" or "System" like all earlier versions. With version 7.5.1, the name "Mac OS" debuted on the boot screen, and the operating system was officially renamed to Mac OS in 1997 with version 7.6. The Mac OS 7 line was the longest-lasting major version of the Classic Mac OSes due to the troubled development of Copland, an operating system intended to be the successor to OS 7 before its cancellation and replacement with Mac OS 8.

  1. ^ Norton, Peter (1992). Inside System 7 (1st ed.). Brady Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 0-13-656273-6. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Danuloff, Craig (April 6, 1991). The System 7 Book (4th ed.). Ventana Press, Inc. ISBN 0-940087-58-8. Retrieved March 3, 2024.