Low End Mac's Best Deals

Best Classic Mac OS Prices

2012.05.16

Short link: http://bit.ly/cv3ZB

Using System 6? Join our System 6 List.
Using Mac OS 9? Join our Mac OS 9 List.

Although the Classic Mac OS remains useful, there's little point to updating this page regularly. We plan to update it a few times a year.

The Classic Mac OS is dead, according to Apple (see video from April 2, 2002), but that's not really true. It's still alive and well and being used - just no longer with any support from Apple. In fact, we continue to use Mac OS 9.2.2 daily at Low End Mac, albeit via Classic Mode in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

We've scoured the Web in search of online stores with the Classic Mac OS available, and we've found everything from System 6.0.8 on floppies through Mac OS 9.2.2 CDs. Note that some install CDs are specific to certain computers; we note that when possible.

We've also added links for some software titles for the Classic Mac OS: AppleWorks, Adobe Photoshop, FileMaker, iMovie, Microsoft Office, and more.

If you have a Mirror Drive Door Power Mac G4 or a PowerBook G4 with DVI output, be sure to look for the 2002 version of the Mac OS 9.2.2 install CD. The 2001 version predates these models and will not create a bootable system for them, although it will create a system that can be used in Classic Mode.

Note that you can download System 6.0.8 and 7.5.3 (plus the 7.5.5 update) from Apple. See our Classic Mac OS Downloads and Updates for links and more information.

Low End Mac does not sell software. Please use the links below to order from the vendor of your choice.

For prices on Mac OS X versions that support Classic Mode, see:

Intel-based Macs and Mac OS X 10.5 and higher do not support Classic Mode.

Best Classic Mac OS Prices

System 6.0.8, $9.77 on HD floppies, $12.77 on 800K floppies, Operator Headgap
System 7.1, 800K floppies, $29.77, Operator Headgap
System 7.5, HD floppies, $19.77, Operator Headgap
System 7.5.3, HD floppies, $39.97 (free online upgrade to 7.5.5), Operator Headgap
Mac OS 7.6.1 CD, $60, Hard Core Mac
Mac OS 8.0 CD, $50 shipped, Operator Headgap
Mac OS 8.1 CD, $60, Hard Core Mac
Mac OS 8.5.1 CD, $30, FastMac
Mac OS 8.6 CD, $30, FastMac
Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, iMac only, includes AppleWorks 6.0.3, $19.77, Operator Headgap
HOT Mac OS 9.2.2 CD (early 2002), $9.95, Your Mac Store

Be sure to factor in shipping costs and possible sales tax. Unless otherwise noted, there is no surcharge for credit card purchases and shipping is not included. Vendors are listed in alphabetical order. Be sure to visit their sites for full details.

Prices may be limited to quantity on hand. Manuals and packaging may be missing. Not responsible for typos.

Buying through some of these links benefits Low End Mac. Buying at these prices benefits you.

Classic Mac OS Upgrade Guide

In many instances, Apple offers free downloadable updates to those with earlier versions of the Mac OS. Sometimes this has to be done in multiple steps. The final revision is usually more stable and/or feature complete. Note that you must have a Mac with an Apple floppy drive to create 800K floppies. USB floppy drives only support high density (1.4M) Mac floppies, not 800K diskettes.

Systems 6.0.8 and 7.0.1 can be downloaded for free from Apple and copied to floppy disks.
System 7.5.3 can also be downloaded for free, but the files are not disk images. Any version of System 7.5.x can be updated to 7.5.5, although a few Macs do not support 7.5.5.
Mac OS 7.6 can be updated to 7.6.1.
Mac OS 8.0 can be updated to 8.1.
Mac OS 8.5 and 8.5.1 can be updated to 8.6.
Mac OS 9.0.x can be updated to 9.1, the last version supported on some PowerPC Macs.
Mac OS 9.0.x and 9.1.x can be updated to 9.2.2.

Classic Mac OS

Amazon.com

Mac OS 8.5, $33.98 + $3.99 shipping
Mac OS 9.2.1, $32 + $3.99 shipping
Claris Home Page 3.0, $24.95 + $3.99 shipping. We're still using this software daily at Low End Mac headquarters. Not standards compliant, it does produce Web pages that just work.

FastMac

Mac OS 8.5.1, $29.99
Mac OS 8.6, $29.99
Mac OS 9.0.4, $29.99
Mac OS 9.1, $29.99
Mac OS 9.2, $29.99
Mac OS 9.2.2, $29.99

Hard Core Mac

Mac OS 7.5.3 on floppies, $41.99
Mac OS 7.6.1 CD, $59.99
Mac OS 8.0 CD, $59.99
Mac OS 8.1 CD, $59.99
Mac OS 8.5 CD + 8.6 update, $119.99
Mac OS 8.5.1, $119.99
Mac OS 8.6, $159.99
Mac OS 9.0 CD, $149.99
Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, $149.99
Mac OS 9.1 CD, $159.99
Mac OS 9.2.1 CD, $159.99
Mac OS 9.2.1 CD with 9.2.2 update. Not for Macs that require 9.2.2. $159.99

Operator Headgap

Shipping charges included. When ordering from Operator Headgap, please let them know you heard about them on Low End Mac when entering your shipping information. Thanks!

System 6.0.8, HD floppies, $9.77 shipped
System 6.0.8, 800K floppies, $12.77 shipped
System 7.1 on 800K floppies, $29.77 shipped
System 7.5 HD floppies, $19.77 shipped
System 7.5.3 HD floppies, $39.77 shipped
Mac OS 8.0 CD, $49.77 shipped
Mac OS 8.5 CD, $79.77 shipped
Mac OS 8.6 CD, $89.77 shipped
Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, iMac only, includes AppleWorks 6.0.3 (which can be installed on any Mac), $19.77 shipped
Mac OS 9.2.1 CD, will not boot Mirror Drive Door Power Macs, $49.77 shipped

Classic Apps

Adobe PageMill 3.0 (Mac OS 8.0 or later), $14.77 shipped
AppleWorks 6.0.3, Palm Desktop, Bugdom, Nanosaur, and more, iMac Restore CD, $19.77 shipped
Kid Pix Deluxe (Mac OS 8.1 or later), $19.77 shipped
iMovie 2 (Mac OS 9.0.4 or later), $14.77 shipped
Microsoft Office 4.2 (Word 6, Excel 5, PowerPoint), $59.77 shipped

Your Mac Store

Mac OS 9.2.2 CD, will not boot Mirror Drive Door Power Macs. $9.95

We Love Macs OS 7.x - OS 8.x - OS 9.x

System 7.0 CD, $99.95
System 7.1 floppies, $99.95
System 7.1.2 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
System 7.5 CD, $99.95
System 7.5.3 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
Mac OS 7.6 CD, Power Computing version, $79.95
Mac OS 7.6.1 CD, $79.95
Mac OS 8.1 CD, Apple version. $79.99
Mac OS 8.5 CD, $169.95
Mac OS 8.5.1 CD plus extras, iMac only, $69.49
Mac OS 9.0 CD plus extras, iMac only, $79.99
Mac OS 9.0.4 CD, G3/G4 Mac only, $79.99
Mac OS 9.1 CD, $159.95
Mac OS 9.2.1 update CD (required 9.1), $1.95
Mac OS 9.2.1 CD, $159.95
Mac OS 9.2.2 CD, $99.95

Classic Apps

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