SheepShaver for Mac
Emulator for Classic Mac OS environment.
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SheepShaver overview
SheepShaver is an Open Source PowerPC Mac OS run-time environment. That is, it enables you to run PowerPC Classic Mac OS software on your computer, even if you are using a different operating system. However, you still need a copy of Mac OS and a PowerMac ROM image to use this program. SheepShaver is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).
Features:
- SheepShaver runs macOS 10.7 through macOS 10.14
- PowerPC G4 emulation on non-PowerPC platforms, direct execution otherwise
- Basic but portable JIT engine (x86, x86_64, mips)
- Copy and paste of text between Mac OS and the host OS
- File exchange with the host OS via a Unix icon on the Mac desktop
- Color video display with support for run-time resolution switching
- Run-time depth switching from 1 bpp to current host depth settings
- Native QuickDraw 2D acceleration for BitBlt and FillRect operations
- CD-quality stereo sound output
- Networking: SheepShaver supports Internet and LAN networking via Ethernet and PPP with all Open Transport compatible MacOS applications
If you are using a PowerPC-based system, applications will run at native speeds (i.e., without any emulation involved). On other systems, SheepShaver provides the first PowerPC G4 emulator, though without MMU, to enable the execution of Mac OS Classic. Performance with the current CPU emulator using basic just-in-time (JIT) translation techniques is roughly 1/8-th of native speeds.
The following platforms are currently supported: Linux (i386, ppc, x86_64), MacOS X (i386, ppc), Darwin, NetBSD 2.0, FreeBSD 5.3 and Windows for x86. Please note that I am pretty careless of the Windows version since I am not a Windows developer. You are heartily invited to join the effort!
What’s new in version 2.5
Version 2.5 (Build from March 2021):
View older SheepShaver versions - Negative values for "Lines to Scroll" (mousewheellines) can be entered, thus reversing the scroll direction.
- Adds another advanced feature: Option to shorten the sound buffer length with a prefs item "sound_buffer".
SheepShaver for Mac
Free
In English
Version 2.5
What users say about SheepShaver
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(3 Reviews of SheepShaver)
Comments
User Ratings
Oct 15 2021
Version: 2.5
I have used SheepShaver and it works very well for needed software in Mac OS 9. However, when I upgraded my Mac to OS 11.6 SheepShaver won't open. Will a newer version of this needed APP be available
Mar 4 2020
Version: 2.5
SheepShaver was updated in recent months to work with macOS 10.15 Catalina. My main macOS right now is 10.15.3. But there are a few apps where I need good ol' classic Mac OS 9: SheepShaver is there to save the day!
Oct 9 2018
Version: 2.5
Notes about version 2.5 are available here:
https://www.emaculation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7360
"Version 2.5, 11 July 2018, 64-bit only
"For Intel Mac, MacOSX 10.7 (Lion) through macOS 10.14 (Mojave)
"If you have an existing SheepShaver setup, you can simply replace the application with the new application.
"For a new setup, also download the SheepShaver folder: http://ronaldpr.home.xs4all.nl/sheepsha ... folder.zip
"For more information see the revised setup manual: https://www.emaculation.com/doku.php/sh ... os_x_setup "
More about SheepShaver can be found here:
http://sheepshaver.cebix.net/
NOTE: SheepShaver is limited to running Mac OS 7.5.2 thru 9.0.4. I personally recommend running Mac OS 8.6, my favorite version.
From my testing, it works as well as the previous version 2.4. It has a steep initial learning curve. Be sure to run Disk First Aid fairly frequently in order to maintain your emulation boot drive. It will run most old Mac OS software just as well as you'd expect, therefore occasional crashes will occur. It can be quite fun. But patience and persistence are required.