The University of Pennsylvania's Online Computing Magazine
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October 1991 - Volume 8:2 [Printout | Contents | Search ]
By Scott Williams Now that System 7 has been released by Apple, many people are faced with the task of deciding whether or not to upgrade. There are two factors to consider when looking at upgrading to System 7: hardware and software.
HardwareTo use the new system software and all its features effectively, you will need at least 4 Mbytes of RAM. This will allow you to run two full-sized applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel, at the same time. The more memory you have, the better the performance will be.You will also need a hard disk drive with at least 4 Mbytes of free storage. The actual amount of disk storage required for the system itself varies significantly depending upon which features you are using, and 4 Mbytes is only a guideline. If you plan to use System 7's virtual memory capability (hard disk space used as RAM), you will need free disk space equivalent to the amount of virtual memory you want to use, in addition to the approximately 4 Mbytes for the system. Because System 7 was designed to run on all Macintosh computers currently being sold, you can use its basic capabilities on any model from a Plus to a IIfx. However, to use some of the advanced features, you will need a higher-level machine. Virtual Memory, for example, requires a Paged Memory Management Unit (PMMU). This is part of the 68030 processor used by the Mac SE/30, IIx, IIsi, IIcx, IIci, and IIfx models. It can also be added to the Mac II. If you need to use more than 8 Mbytes of RAM at one time, you will need a model that uses 32-bit addressing (a method of using memory that allows the computer to use up to 4 gigabytes of RAM). The LC, IIsi, IIci, and IIfx support 32-bit addressing; the capability can be added to a II, SE/30, IIx, or IIcx running System 7 by installing MODE32, a software utility available free of charge from the CRC (bring your own diskette).
SoftwareMany applications, utilities, and drivers in use today are not compatible with System 7. Software manufacturers are, however, developing, or have already released, new versions of their software that will work with System 7 and take advantage of its new features. (See "The Seventh System," Penn Printout, May 1991) Apple offers a "Compatibility Checker" that can help you determine if your software is compatible. The Compatibility Checker reports on each application on your hard drive, telling you that it is "Compatible," "Mostly Compatible," or that you "Must Upgrade." If an application is not marked as "Compatible," contact the manufacturer of that software for information on upgrading to a newer version.Using these basic guidelines, you can plan your upgrade to System 7 and be prepared for the new software that takes full advantage of the system.
SCOTT WILLIAMS was a Student Assistant at the Computing Resource Center in the spring and summer of 1991. Sidebar: System 7: Virtual memory and 32-bit addressing capability
Model Virtual memory 32-bit addressing =============================================================== Plus, SE, Classic no no LC no yes SE/30, IIx, IIcx yes with MODE32 II with 68851 PMMU with MODE32 IIsi, IIci, IIfx yes yes |