I'm alluding here specifically to the way OS 9 handles multitasking.

They aren't in love with the way one app crashing would bring down an entire system, but rather the design elements that can unfortunately lead to that scenario often better suit creative work. Creatives in particular speak about some of OS 9's biggest technical shortcomings in favorable terms. These users stick around purely because they can and because they think classic Mac OS offers a more pleasant experience than OS X. But many more speak of a genuine preference for OS 9. Computers are prohibitively expensive where they live, and these people would also need to spend thousands on new software licenses and updated hardware (on top of the cost of a new Mac). There are some OS 9 subscribers who hold out for cost reasons. The reasons some Mac lovers stick with OS 9 are practically as numerous as Apple operating systems themselves. And to my surprise, I found that most of the people who cling staunchly to Mac OS 9 (or earlier) as a key component of their daily-or at least regular-workflow actually have good reason for doing so. I trawled forums and asked around, and I even spent more time with my own classic Macs. It only takes a quick trip to the world of subreddits and Facebook groups to verify these users exist.Ĭertain that they can't all be maniacs, I went searching for these people. OS 9 diehards may hold on due to one important task they just can't replicate on a newer computer, or perhaps they simply prefer it as a daily driver. All Cunningham could do was play old games and marvel at the difference 15 years makes in operating system design.īut as hard as it may be to believe in light of yet another OS X macOS update, there are some who still use Apple's long-abandoned system.

He couldn't log in to his Ars e-mail or do much of anything online, which meant-as someone who writes about new technology for an online-only publication-he couldn't do his work. Further Reading My coworkers made me use Mac OS 9 for their (and your) amusementBack when Ars Senior Products Editor Andrew Cunningham was forced to work in Mac OS 9 by his colleagues in September 2014, he quickly hit a productivity wall.

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