Mac OS 9 is fantastic time capsule into the early stages of consumer internet use. The OS was Apple's final version of the "classic" operating system before it focused its efforts on Mac OS X. One of the major benefits of Mac OS 9 was its improved ability to use online services. OS 9 touted Sherlock 2, Apple's improved internet and file search utility. The OS also boasted iTools, launched in January 2000, which featured iCards (online greeting cards), HomePage (website publishing tools), and made @mac.com email addresses available. But there was one problem; it wasn't necessarily clear to people in 1999 that using the internet would be beneficial.



In 1999, only 4.6% of Earth's population used the internet -- about 250 million people. Online shopping was in the extremely early stages, and online gaming was very limited. A BBC article from the time claimed 1999 as "the year of the net" but also stated that only 37% of UK adults used the internet. And it featured quotes we would now laugh at such as "with broadband, games will be played in cyberspace."



Apple and other tech companies had to actively educate people about what the internet was and the benefits of using it -- it wasn't obvious to everyone. The Mac OS 9 installation guide is a great example of this kind of education at the time.



YouTuber Shiunbird did a great job recording the setup of Mac OS 9, and with his permission we've extracted screenshots that highlight these early times. All images below are from this excellent video. Shiunbird also has lots of other videos on vintage hardware and software. Thanks Shiunbird!

Welcome Video

Apple's operating systems used to have unique welcome videos. This one was no exception. Here's a nice tour of Mac OS welcome videos.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Welcome screen animation (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Getting Started

Mac OS 9 Setup: Let's set up your Mac (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Register Your Computer

A new Apple product is a valuable investment, states the installer. Perhaps, but why isn't the text centered on the screen? Surprising that Apple let that slide.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Register your computer (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Do You Want To Get On The Internet?

Do You Want To Get On The Internet? It was an honest question back in 1999. The dot-com boom was well underway, but the internet was far from a necessity at that point.



The option Tell me more about the Internet brings us back to a simpler time when the internet was not baked into anything and everything in tech. Can you imagine an option like this in a modern operating system? The next few screens are displayed after choosing the option "Tell me more..."



Also, why is this screen not centered properly?

Mac OS 9 Setup: Do you want to get on the Internet? (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

About the Internet

The installer states The Internet is a worldwide network of computers that you can access using your computer and a telephone line.



Our younger readers may be surprised by this, but the olden days of consumer internet access were indeed telephone-based, with dialup constituting ~95% of US internet usage in 1999.



And by telephone, we mean corded land-line phones. Not cell phones. The phone line ran from the wall into your computer modem. And you had to tell your family not to pick up the phone in another room, so as not to disconnect your internet session!

Mac OS 9 Setup: About the Internet (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Access the World Wide Web

You can access the World Wide Web for the latest news, entertainment, and software for your computer.



This still remains true today!

Mac OS 9 Setup: Access the World Wide Web for latest news and entertainment (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Use e-mail to keep in touch with friends and family

You can also use e-mail to keep in touch with your friends and family.



It's good to see that some things never change. But the concept of social media as it's known today didn't yet exist.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Use e-mail to keep in touch with friends and family (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

You need an internet service provider

To access the Internet, you sign up for service with a company called an Internet Service Provider. (Also known as an ISP.)



There were gatekeepers back then just like there are today.

Mac OS 9 Setup: You need an internet service provider (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Internet usually uses a local phone call

When you want to browse the Web or send and receive e-mail, your computer dials your ISP and connects to the Internet. Usually it's a local phone call.



In the modern era of cell phones, the line between long-distance calls versus local calls has blurred to the point where cell providers often only count minutes used, regardless of the destination of the call. In the US, when Mac OS 9 was released, phone companies provided free phone calls for home land lines provided the calls were to a local exchange, often in the same area code. Calls outside this area were charged a per-minute rate depending on the distance of the recipient. And of course international calls were even more expensive. So it was crucial that your ISP provided a local phone call option for dialup internet, or else your access would cost a small fortune.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Internet usually uses a local phone call (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Using the World Wide Web

Now let's see how to use the Internet. You use a Web browser program to view the information on the Internet. To open your Web browser, double-click Browse the Internet.



We take web surfing for granted, but this was a foreign concept for most in 1999. And of course online content was only a tiny fraction of what exists today.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Using the World Wide Web (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Demonstration of browser usage

Mac OS 9 Setup: Demonstration of browser usage (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Click when the pointer changes to a pointing hand

When you're viewing a Web site, click links on the page to explore further. You can tell there is something to click when the pointer changes to a pointing hand.



Apple painstakingly explained core web browsing concepts.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Click when the pointer changes to a pointing hand (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Each web site has an address called a URL

Each Web site has an address, called a URL. For example, Apple's Web address is www.apple.com. If you know an address that you want to view, use the Network Browser to connect to the address.



There were probably debates at Apple HQ about what terminology to use when explaining these concepts. Notice that they didn't mention domain names, web pages, or protocols.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Each web site has an address called a URL (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Using e-mail (electronic messages)

When you sign up for an Internet account you're assigned an e-mail address your friends and family can use to send you electronic messages. You use the Mail program to write, send, and receive your e-mail.



The default email client in Mac OS 9 was Microsoft Outlook Express 4.5. Can you imagine Apple including a Microsoft product as a default system app these days?

Mac OS 9 Setup: Using e-mail (electronic messages) (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Tell the computer to hang up the phone line

When you're done using the Internet, tell the computer to hang up the phone line and disconnect from the Internet using the Remote Access Status window.



ISPs often charged per hour or per minute for internet access, so it was important to disconnect when you were done, or else you'd pay more than you needed to.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Tell the computer to hang up the phone line (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

What type of Internet connection do you have?

What type of Internet connection do you have?

Mac OS 9 Setup: What type of Internet connection do you have? (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Your existing local area network

To connect to your current local area network, you will need to know the following information about your existing account. If you need help, contact your local area network administrator.



LAN setup was a lot more work in 1999.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Your existing local area network (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Set up network service

This information is needed to configure your system for Internet access. For specifics about your network service, you may need to contact your network administrator.



I hope you didn't make any mistakes typing in all these addresses.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Set up network service (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Enter e-mail settings

Mac OS 9 Setup: Contact your network administrator (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

You're going online!

If you have any questions or get stuck, you can always refer to the tutorials in the Help menu. Enjoy your Mac and have fun exploring the Internet.



Oh, we will Apple! Thank you!

Mac OS 9 Setup: You're going online! (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Mac desktop and Internet Explorer browser

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 was the default web browser on Mac OS 9. Apple's Safari browser wasn't released until 2003, for Mac OS X 10.2.

Mac OS 9 Setup: Mac desktop and Internet Explorer browser (1999)

Source: Shiunbird

Next: Classic Mac OS, Mac OS X, and Apple.com

See our illustrated design evolution of classic Mac OS from 1984 to 2001, showing the timeline of System 1 to System 9.



Next, see the visual progression of Mac OS X which launched in 2001.



Also, if you're an Apple fan, see our article on what Apple.com used to look like - 25 years of design history of the Apple.com website.



Do you like seeing nostalgic stuff like this everyday? Follow Version Museum on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.



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