System 7, codenamed "Big Bang", and also known as Mac OS 7, is a graphical user interface-based operating system for Macintosh computers and is part of the classic Mac OS series of operating systems. It was introduced on May 13, 1991, by Apple Computer[1] It succeeded System 6, and was the main Macintosh operating system until it was succeeded by Mac OS 8 in 1997. Current for more than six years, System 7 was the longest-lived major version series of the classic Macintosh operating system (to date, only Mac OS X had a longer lifespan). Features added with the System 7 release included virtual memory, personal file sharing, QuickTime, QuickDraw 3D, and an improved user interface.
| Version of the classic Mac OS operating system | |
 Screenshot of Mac OS 7.6.1 | |
| Developer | Apple Computer |
|---|---|
| OS family | Macintosh |
| Working state | Historic, not supported |
| Source model | Closed source |
| Initial release | May 13, 1991 |
| Latest release | 7.6.1 / April 7, 1997 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic for 68k, nanokernel for PowerPC |
| License | Proprietary |
| Preceded by | System 6 |
| Succeeded by | Mac OS 8 |
| Official website | Mac OS Releases at the Wayback Machine (archived April 12, 1997) |
| Tagline | It's powerful, it's easy to use-it's the new operating system for your Macintosh. |
| Support status | |
| Historical, unsupported as of May 2001 | |
| Part of a series on |
| Classic Mac OS |
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With the release of version 7.6 in 1997, Apple officially renamed the operating system "Mac OS", a name that had first appeared on System 7.5.1's boot screen. System 7 was developed for Macs that used the Motorola 680x0 line of processors, but was ported to the PowerPC after Apple adopted the new processor in 1994 with the introduction of the Power Macintosh.
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