Once you get everything set up and the Basilisk II GUI configured properly, you can then start the Macintosh and install the operating system. In addition, Basilisk II requires downloading the operating system files (obviously) and setting up a place to store the files and setup an emulated drive volume.
Because the classic Macintosh operating system only works on a true Mac (whether it be a true Apple Macintosh or, later, a clone) it requires this ROM file to start and work.
They also have instructions for use with Windows and Linux.īasilisk II requires downloading a ROM file to work. They have the detailed instructions for configuring Basilisk II in macOS here. I’m not going to provide step-by-step configuration instructions. I decided to install Basilisk II on my early 2014 MacBook Air, running macOS 10.14.5 “Mojave.” Not only are you running a Macintosh emulator on a true modern Mac, but I found installation was somewhat easier on a Mac. Unlike DOSBox, where everything came ready-to-go, Basilisk II requires a lot of work to get it up and going. With all of this out of the way, let’s talk about getting our emulator up and running. Specifically, Basilisk II mostly emulates a Macintosh Quadra 900 (circa 1991) running System 7.5.3 (circa 1996.) It still emulates a 68K-based Mac, but emulates a modular model that was capable of displaying color, offered more power and could run later versions of the Macintosh hardware.
SheepShaver is the best option if you want to run Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9.īasilisk II, the software I’m going to be demonstrating, fits snugly in the middle. The PowerPC chips were designed by the AIM Alliance (Apple, IBM and Motorola) and were used until 2006. In 1992, Apple started switching from using the Motorola 68K processors to the PowerPC chips. SheepShaver, on the other hand, emulates the PowerPC-based Macs. Mini vMac emulates compact Mac models (such as the Macintosh Plus, although it also supports models from the 128K to Classic.) Therefore, you’ll only get a black-and-white display and limited power. There are three “main” classic Macintosh emulators: Mini vMac, Basilisk II and SheepShaver. The website E-Maculation is dedicated to classic Macintosh emulators.
(For instance, macOS is based on BSD UNIX the classic Mac isn’t.) macOS has evolved since Apple introduced it back in 2001 as Mac OS X, but it is very different from its precursor. The Macintosh operating system’s history is often split into two sections: the classic Macintosh OS, and the modern macOS. The Macintosh operating system has evolved greatly since its introduction in 1984. Since my DOSBox post, where I demonstrated classic MS-DOS software, I’ve wanted to find and use a classic Mac emulator to experience the classic Mac experience – to run classic Macintosh software, experience the user interface and see what has and hasn’t changed. We may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.Want to run yesterday’s Macintosh software on your modern Mac or PC? We will use this information to make the website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. Targeting/Profiling Cookies: These cookies record your visit to our website and/or your use of the services, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. Loss of the information in these cookies may make our services less functional, but would not prevent the website from working. This enables us to personalize our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region). Functionality Cookies: These cookies are used to recognize you when you return to our website. This helps us to improve the way the website works, for example, by ensuring that users are easily finding what they are looking for. Analytics/Performance Cookies: These cookies allow us to carry out web analytics or other forms of audience measuring such as recognizing and counting the number of visitors and seeing how visitors move around our website. They either serve the sole purpose of carrying out network transmissions or are strictly necessary to provide an online service explicitly requested by you. The cookies we use can be categorized as follows: Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are cookies that are required for the operation of or specific functionality offered.