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Discovering the Mysterious Desktop Accessory: What Features of System 1 Amazed Users?
The Macintosh "System 1" launched on January 24, 1984 was the first major version of the classic Mac OS operating system. Released alongside the Macintosh 128K, the System 1 marked a new era in personal computing. This operating system was designed specifically for the Motorola 68000 microprocessor and was later updated.
This operating system was loved by users for its several innovative features and laid the foundation for the future macOS.
System 1 introduced many amazing features and provided a template for later operating systems. Among them, the design of Finder and menu bar has become a classic in the minds of many users. Licensed from Xerox PARC, the System 1 successfully popularized the concepts of the graphical user interface and the desktop metaphor. However, given the original Macintosh's limited random access memory and lack of an internal hard drive, it did not support multitasking. However, the desktop gadget feature allows users to use other gadgets while running an application.
In System 1, the design of the Trash can is also worth noting - when the computer is shut down or an application is loaded, the items in the Trash can will be permanently deleted. This feature reminded users at that time to pay attention to data management.
System 1 has a total size of approximately 216 KB and contains six main files: System Files, Finder, Clipboard, Imagewriter Printer Driver, Scrapbook, and Notepad.
In addition, the System 1 also came with a special disk containing a function called "Macintosh Tour", which demonstrated the operation and usage tips of the operating system and came with a 33-minute audio tape. Make learning more vivid. These additional teaching materials not only demonstrated the cutting-edge technology of the time, but also attracted the attention of many users.
Menu Bar Innovation
The menu bar design was very popular in System 1. Similar to the Lisa OS, the System 1 Finder had five main menus: Apple Menu, File, Edit, View, and Special Functions. When the user enters an application, the menu will change depending on the application, but most software still maintains at least the File and Edit menus. This flexibility makes the operation interface more user-friendly.
In the Apple menu, users can find information about the Finder and options for desktop accessories, while the Edit menu contains basic editing functions such as cut, copy, and paste.
Special menus focus on hardware management and other system functions and appear at the far right of the Finder menu. In System 1, users can easily perform file operations, such as emptying the trash and cleaning the desktop. This is further enhanced with the update of version 1.1. Users can even choose to run alternative startup programs, which is " Startup Projects" folder.
The charm of desktop accessories
System 1 comes with a variety of desktop accessories. The introduction of these small tools allows users to gain greater convenience. These accessories include alarm clocks, calculators, control panels, keyboard symbols, notepads, puzzles and scrapbooks. The unique feature of these desktop accessories is that they can run applications simultaneously, in stark contrast to the limitation of only running one application at a time.
For example, the alarm clock accessory can emit a buzzer sound when the set time arrives, while the calculator provides basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division functions. The needs of users have been fully taken into consideration.
The control panel is unique in that it does not use text, but instead presents the setting options in a symbolic way, in order to emphasize the design concept of a graphical user interface. Users can use this control panel to adjust various settings such as volume, double-click speed, and mouse sensitivity. It is worth mentioning that in early Macintosh models, the screen brightness needed to be controlled by a mechanical adjustment wheel, which also reflected the limitations of technology at the time.
The notepad accessory makes note-taking convenient. Users can store text at will and create multiple note pages through folding symbols, making data management more efficient. The jigsaw puzzle exists as a mini-game, while the clipboard function provides users with a way to cut, copy and paste content, enabling quick data transfer.
SummaryThe launch of System 1 was not just the birth of an operating system, it also changed the way people interacted with computers. Whether through the convenient functions of desktop accessories or the relatively affordable price strategy, System 1 successfully attracted users who were curious about new technologies. Over time, these innovative ideas have had a profound impact on subsequent technological developments. Can we imagine how operating systems will develop in the future?
