MIT Community Can Get Mac OS and Mac OS Upgrades for Free

Albert Willis

The Institute has signed a site license agreement with Claris Corporation for 
distribution of the Macintosh operating system (Mac OS) to MIT faculty, staff, 
and students. The agreement is for three years, which means that MIT will be 
able to distribute all versions of both of Apple's operating systems - the 
current Mac OS and the next-generation OS, code-named Rhapsody.

Distribution
The primary way for MIT users to get the Mac OS is to retrieve it from the 
net-dist FTP server via the Web. The Mac OS page at

http://web.mit.edu/ist/help/macos/

has links to system requirements, networking issues, and other guidelines, as 
well as links for downloading the software. Both Mac OS 7.6 and 7.5.3 are 
available. Be sure to read the ReadMe file and Installation instructions before 
running the Installer.
 
Since network distribution isn't always convenient or possible, IS also plans to 
make a CD-ROM version available. The CD will contain Mac OS 7.5.3, an updater to 
7.5.5, Mac OS 7.6.1, and an updater to 7.6.1 for those who already have Mac OS 
7.6. The CD will be pressed in early April, after Apple releases Mac OS 7.6.1.

Faculty, staff, and students will be able to pick up a copy of the CD from the 
MIT Computer Connection in W20-021 or from the Computing Help Desk in 11-221. 
(An MIT ID must be shown.) Individuals who aren't on MITnet or don't have access 
to a CD-ROM drive - many PowerBook users fall into this category - should call 
the Computing Help Desk at x3-1101 for assistance.

Apple's Two-System Strategy 
In January, Apple announced a two-system strategy: the company will continue to 
update the current Mac OS while developing the new Rhapsody operating system.

Apple will release a new version of the Mac OS twice a year - in January and 
July. Mac OS 7.6 was the January release; the release expected in July 
(code-named Tempo) will be version 8.0. Two more releases based on the current 
Mac OS architecture are planned: the release code-named Allegro, which is due in 
January 1998, and the release code-named Sonata, expected in July 1998.

Rhapsody will be based on OpenStep, the operating system that Apple acquired 
when it bought NeXT, Inc. in December. The goal of Rhapsody is to combine the 
advanced operating system features from OpenStep - protected memory, preemptive 
multi-tasking, and full object orientation - with the Macintosh graphic user 
interface and Apple technologies such as AppleScript, QuickDraw 3D, and 
QuickTime. Users will be able to run current applications under Rhapsody, 
since Apple is committed to porting the Mac OS environment to Rhapsody. While 
a developer release of Rhapsody is expected to ship in mid-1997, a 
feature-complete version won't ship until mid-1998 or later. 

For details about Apple's operating system plans, visit

http://www.macos.apple.com/