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[ssokolow]

I'm Stephan.

I spent most of my childhood on DOS and Windows and then switched to Linux for my main PC about a year into the Windows XP era, but the Mac SE with an AEK or AEK II that my father would bring home from work sometimes stuck in my mind. (I'm still trying to identify the trackball)

About two years ago, I got a Quicksilver 2002 on the KVM switch in my retro-hobby corner (and later picked up a, sadly currently out-of-order Mini G4 installed with Ross's CD v9 on the KVM switch on my main desk), and I can confirm that there's just something about the polish of classic Mac OS UI/UX that makes it special, above and beyond the elegance of things like resource forks. (And that Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines (1992) is the most "embody what you're teaching" UI/UX book in existence. Anyone who's only ever seen the digital copies really need to hold the print version at least once for the full effect.)

(By contrast, OSX is not fit for purpose, being Apple's demonstration that they know how to make both Mac OS and UNIX boring in one fell swoop... which is why I rarely turn on the 2009 Macbook or the 2010 iMac I received as hand-me-downs.)

If I can get my hobby time in order, I have plans to learn Toolbox programming so I can extend my enjoyment of writing utilities to classic Mac OS. Maybe a sibling for my Linux equivalent to tools like WinSplit Revolution, Spectacle, and Rectangle. I have yet to find one of those for classic Mac OS.

I'd have showed up sooner, but the CHRP System 7 support for New World Macs was the kick in the butt I needed. (I'll be sharing my results so far with the QS2002 in a bit.)

EDIT: ...and yes, I recognize that I've never been good at introducing myself.

[Jubadub]

Hey, welcome, Stephen! That was a flawless introduction!

I very much agree with the whole UI/UX commentary on Mac OS! And yes, OS X, to me as well, is just a UNIX box, and not Mac OS per se. And indeed, Mac OS' modularity which encourages more user autonomy, ownership and tinkering is definitely among the many of the highest distinctive qualities the OS has to offer.

Glad to have you participate here on "Mac OS 9 Lives!" and thus also in the Mac OS communities at large! Looking forward to seeing what you might end up working on for Mac OS!