Review of Mac OS 8.6

 

Hands-On Review: Mac OS 8.6

By Bill Fox
May 9, 1999 (Rev.2 5/10;Rev.2 5/11)

Apple Computer, Inc. Price: Free Downloadable Updater

Pros: Easy, fast installation; Lots of system file updates

Cons: Double-clutch monitor resolution on startup with Blue & White G3.

Mac OS 8.6 is the latest and greatest operating system from Apple computer, Inc.! Despite one annoyance, it really is terrific. I've been using 8.6 for some time as it ran through various betas and then got a final version copy on Saturday afternoon when it made a brief public appearance for just over an hour on Apple's server #3. This review is based on that final-version copy. The review will be updated as I use the final version and as others report problems, if any, and their solutions. You can now get Mac OS 8.6 here.

Unlike Mac OS 8.5 that came with terrific new features like Sherlock and 8.5.1 that fixed a few significant bugs, 8.6 is mostly an under-the-hood and feature-improvement updater that not only fixes bugs but supplies a brand new nanokernel, a part of the heart of the operating system.

Mac OS 8.6 Updater comes as a 35+MB download or in 12 partial downloads. Apple released a CD for those with a really slow or no internet connection or to avoid having to install Mac OS 8.5 and then the 8.6 updater when doing a clean install. Owners of Mac OS 8.5 can get the CD for $19.95. The Mac OS Up-to-Date Program Tech Info Letter was updated, as noted May 6th on Macs Only!. The ReadMe file "Installing Mac OS 8.6" that came with the updater mentions starting up from a CD.

Apple posted a comprehensive Tech Info Letter on Mac OS 8.6.

What You Get

Mac OS 8.6 is downloaded as a self-mounting image file. To open it, one does not need Disk Copy even though Apple just reposted version 6.3.3 of Disk Copy. Double clicking the .smi file produces a disk image that contains two ReadMe files and the Mac OS 8.6 Installer. One Readme file is About Mac OS 8.6 and the other is on Installing Mac OS 8.6. The former has a lot of notes regarding compatibility and the need to update certain applications to their most recent version.

The four features touted by Apple include: (1) expanded Sherlock capability, (2) improved media integration, (3) greater device access and capability and (4) improved printing and font management. Sherlock can now search behind firewalls and search content in PDF and HTML files. Apparently, ColorSync 2.6 is installed but I don't know for sure because I already had v2.6.1 installed. Same with Mac OS Runtime for Java 2.1.1--I have 2.1.2. DVD-RAM disc support is included. The Game Sprockets set is included as is improved support for USB and FireWire devices. Laserwriter 8.6.5 allows secure printing with ASIP, creates a job/log file and creates desk top printers for USB and TCP/IP connected printers.

Mac OS 8.6 replaces a host of control panels and extensions. Eight control panels are revised: Apple Menu Options, Date & Time, Energy Saver, File Exchange, Keyboard, Memory, Monitors & Sound and Startup Disk. The revised extensions include: Apple CD-DVD, Apple Enet, AppleScript, AppleShare, the ATi drivers, Sherlock set, DVD set, FireWire set, Game Sprocket set, Open Transport set and a bunch of USB drivers, etc.

How To Do It

1. Run Disk First Aid or TechTool Pro or Norton Utilities on your hard drive to be sure it is in tip-top condition.

2. Turn off all virus detection/protection software.

3. Go to the Extensions Manager and select the "Mac OS 8.5 All" set. This is to ensure that all the old versions in your system folder are found and replaced.

4. Make sure that Apple System Profiler and Sherlock are loose in the Apple Menu Items folder or they won't be replaced with a newer version.

5. Restart.

6. Make sure all applications are quit.

7. Click on the Mac OS 8.6 Update .smi file to get a disk image which may open automatically.

8. Click on the disk image, if not open, and read the two ReadMe files.

9. Click on the Update to Mac OS 8.6 icon.

10. The Welcome screen with 4 steps comes up. Click "Continue".

11. Select Destination Screen -- Choose destination disk from popup menu and click "Select".

12. License Agreement Screen -- Read and click "Continue".

13. License Agreement Dialog Box -- click "Agree".

14. Installer Screen -- click "Options" button and check "Update Drivers" and "Create Installation Report". [If your hard drive is not compatible, the installer will tell you so later and click "Continue" or "Ignore Warning" at that time.] Click "OK" and click "Start"

15. Dialog Box to quit running applications -- click "Continue".

16. Installation Box with Progress Bar -- runs through checking the hard drive, installing new hard disk drivers and installing MacOS 8.6. It takes 3 to 8 minutes in my experience.

17. Installation Process Finished dialog box -- click "Restart".

18. Enjoy Mac OS 8.6. The first thing you'll notice is that the Mac OS splash screen at startup now proudly states "Mac OS 8.6". If you set Extensions Manager to "Mac OS 8.5 All" set, you will get a dialog box saying that the set no longer exists. Just click "Create New Set" which will probably be called "My Settings1" if you already had a "My Settings" set. When the OS is finished loading, launch the Extensions Manager and reconfigure "My Settings1" rather than selecting "My Settings" since some of the extensions are new. You can delete "My Settings" and rename "My Settings1" to "My Settings" if you are a neatness freak like me.

Installation Experience

Installation was smoother and quicker than any other in memory despite the 35+MB file size. A review of the installation log confirmed the many changes and updates that occurred. Dana Baggett reported a similarly quick and smooth installation. He also pointed out that newer items were not replaced by older items as has occurred in the past with Mac OS installers. Here are the times (in round minutes) that it took the installer to finish checking the hard drive, installing new drivers and installing Mac OS 8.6 and the Mac OS RAM usage before (8.5.1) and after (8.6) as measured with all OS extensions on for seven different Macs:

Computer - RAM	Install Time (Min)	Mac OS RAM Usage (MB)
		8.5.1	8.6
iMac 333 - 96 MB	3	-	18.3
7100/G3 - 104 MB	8	12.7	13.1
8500/250 - 88 MB	3	-	14.2
9600/G3 - 128 MB	3	16.0	15.7
B&W G3 - 128 MB	3	-	-
3400/180 - 80 MB	5	-	14.3
PB 2400 - 80 MB	5	14.2	14.4

Use

I have only had a short time to use the final public version. It is extremely stable. I have had no compatibility issues that weren't resolved by updating the application or driver to the most current. Startup times seem a bit longer but I didn't measure them before and after. RAM usage by the Mac OS does not generally increase.

The only annoying issue is with the B&W G3. At startup the monitor begins in 640x480 60Hz regardless of what it is set for in Monitors & Sound. Then it clicks off and on to the preset resolution and startup proceeds with the icon march.

PowerBook internal temperature is generally down but not a lot. I measured the battery life time on my PowerBook 2400c with the screen fully bright, the hard disk constantly running and processor cycling turned off. It averaged 1:19 with Mac OS 8.5.1 and 1:46 with Mac OS 8.6, a significant improvement. My PowerBook 3400/180 with processor cycling turned on, but a fully bright screen and spinning hard drive nearly made 3 hours. I'll be conducting more tests to see if I can leave my second battery behind on cross country flights.

Issues

FinderPop 1.8 causes finder crashes when dragging according to one reader. This is fixed by trashing the finder preference file and rebooting. It also conflicts with Mouseworks 5.2 according to another. Fis this by disabling control-free popups in all applications. Expect Turly O'Connor to fix this shortly and release a new version.

Mouseworks 5.2 -- According to a reader, "Mousework's would not retain the Mouseworks button application set (of the app being configured) after a restart if divider lines were added to a pop-up menu. It wasn't just a matter of the last changes being lost, the whole application set would be lost as well."

Copyright © 1999 by Bill Fox
All rights reserved--no commercial use permitted without attribution.

Of course . . . . . . and I am proud to be an Evangelista! . . .