Chapter 7. The Classic Environment

The Classic environment is Apple's tool that lets you use applications written for Mac OS 9 and earlier on Macs running Mac OS X. On its own, Mac OS X can't run applications that were developed for Mac OS 9. The Classic environment is a nearly magical tool, since Mac OS 9 and Tiger are vastly different operating systems. Thanks to this magic, you can use applications like QuarkXPress 4 and 5 on PowerPC Macsfor example, the Power Mac G5 and PowerBook G4which can't otherwise run Mac OS 9.

I often see people get very confused trying to keep track of what operating system they used when creating specific documents. Try not to think of it that way. You don't create documents in an operating system; you create them in applications. Just remember what applications you use to create your documents. Instead of saying, "I made this Photoshop file with Classic," say, "I made this Photoshop file with Photoshop 7."

Despite the usefulness that the Classic environment offers, Apple doesn't support it or Mac OS 9 anymore. Few companies are still developing applications for it, and even fewer write peripheral and printer drivers. So, why even bother discussing something that Apple and developers have forsaken? Because designers have not. Many workflows still depend on applications that do not run natively in Tiger, and on printers, scanners, and other devices that simply don't work on any operating system beyond Mac OS 9.2.2.