Version: 8.0
Platform: United States
Mac OS 8 announcement
Apple source ↗Mac OS 8
Apple introduced Mac OS 8 on July 22, 1997 and announced expected availability in the United States and Canada from July 26. The CD had an estimated US price of US$99. The announcement expected localized versions about 90 days later: these schedules do not establish simultaneous worldwide sales or actual shipping on the planned day.
- Type
- Operating system
- Family
- Classic Mac OS
- Documented announcement
- 1997-07-22
- Planned US prices
- CD US$99
- Published requirements
- 68040 or PowerPC; 12 MB physical; below 20 MB, virtual memory enabled at 20 MB
- Documented update
- 8.1
The visible change was in the Finder: a multithreaded interface let file tasks continue while others were running. Platinum appearance, contextual menus, spring-loaded folders and pop-up windows arrived. These changed how people worked; they did not mean that every application now used preemptive multitasking.
Apple · TN1102 · Mac OS 8 · Apple · 1997-07-22 · MacTech
Mac OS 8 required a compatible 68040 or PowerPC computer and at least 12 MB of physical RAM; below 20 MB, virtual memory had to be enabled and set to at least 20 MB. The technical note excluded 68030 machines even with PowerPC cards and machines upgraded with 68030 or 68040 cards. The original 1997 PowerBook G3 developer note confirms factory Mac OS 8, without extending that relationship to every later PowerBook G3.
Apple · TN1102 · Mac OS 8 · Apple · 1997-07-22 · MacTech · Apple · PowerBook G3 1997 · MacDat
Mac OS 8.1 added HFS Plus, also called Mac OS Extended, to reduce wasted space through smaller allocation blocks; existing HFS disks remained supported. Apple documented Finder and disk-cache improvements. Its announcement appears in a January 6, 1998 release filed with the SEC. The US updater information file says January 18, while TidBITS reported availability on January 19: that discrepancy is retained rather than treating one worldwide release day as settled.
Apple · TN1121 · Mac OS 8.1 · Apple · US 8.1 Info · your.org · Apple · 1998-01-06 · SEC · TidBITS · 1998-01-19
Dates documented by Apple
Selected milestones, not a complete history. Announcement, planned availability and the package documentary date are distinct. No builds.
ISO date: year-month-day.
Version: 8.0
Platform: United States and Canada
Expected US and Canadian availability; not proof of actual sales
Apple source ↗Version: 8.1
Platform: Apple announcement
8.1 announcement in Apple release filed with SEC
Apple source ↗Version: 8.1
Platform: US English
Date stated by the US updater information file; TidBITS reported availability on the 19th. Discrepancy retained, not a settled worldwide release date.
Apple source ↗Apple announcement preserved by MacTech, Apple information file preserved by your.org, and Apple developer note preserved by MacDat. Technical notes are hosted by Apple and the 8.1 announcement is in the SEC filing. The January 18/19 discrepancy remains explicit; revision dates are not releases.
Devices and compatibility
PowerBook G3 (original, 1997) (1997)
8.0
Factory Mac OS 8 per the Apple developer note for the original 1997 PowerBook G3. Not all later G3 models.
PowerBook G3 (original, 1997) (1997)
8.1
8.1 upgrade from Mac OS 8.0; cited package requires US English. Apple notes AppleTalk zones are unavailable when this G3 boots from the 8.1 CD. Not a factory relationship.