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System version numbering history
After a while, Apple had to create a unified numbering scheme. This would allow them to release a System Software Update than a new System file and a new Finder file. This was easier as you could ask for many updated files under a release level than every separate file.
Instead of System 2.0 & Finder 1.1g, System 3.3 & Finder 5.4 and System 4.2 & Finder 6.0; they became Mac System Software (0.1), System Software 2.0 and System Software 5.0. This was easier on everyone.
Is is not wrong to use either way to refer to a System Software version you are talking. People usually do talk about the same thing using two different terms. That is ok as long as someone lets the other person know what they are referring to.
I use the System / Finder combination instead of the System Software. I feel it gives me more flexibility and puts an exact label on what I am referring to.
The earliest System Software manual I have is the System Software Update 5.0. It does not describe anything on exactly when this numbering scheme came into effect. I am guessing it did on System 3.1 / Finder 5.2 (System Software 1.0).
Here is the basis of Apple's System Software numbering scheme. Some is from Apple's Technical Information Library #15582.
System Finder MultiFinder LaserWriter
System Software Release Version Version Version Version
----------------------- ------- ------- ----------- -------
Mac System Software 1.0 1.0 N/A N/A
Mac System Software (0.1) 2.0 1.1g N/A N/A
Mac System Software (0.3 & 0.5) 2.0 4.1 N/A N/A
Mac System Software (0.7) 3.0 5.1 N/A N/A
System Software 1.0 3.1 5.2 N/A 1.1
System Software 1.1 3.2 5.3 N/A 3.1
System Software 2.0 3.3 5.4 N/A 3.1
System Software 2.0.1 4.0 5.4 N/A 3.3
System Software 2.0.1 4.1 5.5 N/A 4.0
System Software 5.0 4.2 6.0 1.0 5.0
System Software 5.1 4.3 6.0 1.0 5.1
System Software 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.0 5.2
System Software 6.0.1 6.0.1 6.1.1 6.0.1 5.2
System Software 6.0.2 6.0.2 6.1 6.0.1 5.2
System Software 6.0.3 6.0.3 6.1 6.0.3 5.2
System Software 6.0.4 6.0.4 6.1.4 6.0.4 5.2
System Software 6.0.5 6.0.5 6.1.5 6.0.5 5.2
System Software 6.0.6 6.0.6 6.1.6 6.0.6 5.2
System Software 6.0.7 6.0.7 6.1.7 6.0.7 5.2
System Software 6.0.8 6.0.8 6.1.8 6.0.8 7.0
System Software 7.0 7.0 7.0 * 7.0
System Software 7.0.1 7.0.1 7.0.1 * 7.0
System Software 7.0.1P 7.0.1P 7.0.1P * 7.0
System Software 7.1 7.1 7.1 * 7.1.2
System Software 7.1P** 7.1P 7.1P * 7.1.2
System Software 7.1.1 (Pro) 7.1.1 7.1.3 * 7.1.2
System Software 7.1.1 7.1.1 7.1.3 * 7.1.2
System Software 7.1.2 7.1.2 7.1.4 * 7.1.2
System Software 7.1.2P 7.1.2 7.1.4 * 7.1.2
System Software 7.5 7.5 7.1.4 * 7.2 & 8.1.1
System Software 7.5.1 7.5 7.5.1 * 8.2
System Software 7.5.2 7.5.2 7.5.3 * 8.2.2
System Software 7.5.3 7.5.3 7.5.5 * 8.3.3 & 8.3.4
System Software 7.5.5 7.5.5
System Software 7.6 7.6
System Software 7.6.1 7.6.1
System Software 8.0 8.0
System Software 8.1 8.1
System Software 8.5 8.5
System Software 8.6 8.6
System Software 9.0 9.0 9.0
System Software 9.0.4 9.0.4 9.0
System Software 9.1 9.1 9.1
System Software 9.2 9.2 9.2
System Software 9.2.1 9.2.1 9.2
System Software 9.2.2 9.2.2 9.2
** Mac OS X is not included on this listing, as it does not follow the System numbering scheme **
* Beginning with System 7.0, MultiFinder was no longer a separate piece of software. - In a sense it was built-in.
** Peforma versions also include (System 7.1P2 - 7.1P6)
I excluded everything past System Software 7.5.3. My pages reflect both numbering schemes.
Notice with the above table, most of the System versions are there. The only one missing is:
System Finder MultiFinder LaserWriter
System Software Release Version Version Version Version
----------------------- ------- ------- ----------- -------
Mac System Software (0.?) 1.1 1.1g N/A N/A
I don't know why, I speculate it was a non released version.
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