Once in the SheepShaver directory, type make links.ĥ) After thats done, type cd src/Unix, and then type. More files will be downloaded.Ĥ) Ignore the BasiliskII directory and type cd SheepShaver. It will download a bunch of files, and when it completes, type cvs -d checkout SheepShaver and press Enter. It will ask for the CVS password, type 'anoncvs', no quotes.ģ) Now type cvs -d checkout BasiliskII and press Enter. Here is where the Mac OS 7.5.5 update is located: Downloadġ) Open a new terminal window, and cd to any directory you like, this will be where the BasiliskII and SheepShaver source will be stored.Ģ) In your terminal window, type cvs -d login and press Enter. However, this processor family was last used in Macs in the mid-nineties.Here is where Mac OS 7.5.3 is located: Download SoftMac on a high-end PC runs orders of magnitude faster than the fastest 68K processor. This small number of translations also requires little memory and can even reside in the cache for optimal emulation performance.

This creates a relatively small loop to run through for emulation. This means that there are at most 65,536 items in the instruction matrix that need to be translated to the X86’s instruction set. The 68K processor is a 32-bit processor, but its instructions are 16-bit. SoftMac is a 600KB file, and its working set is small enough to reside on the cache of a standard AMD ‘Thunderbird’ or Pentium III or IV processor.Ĭurrently, SoftMac emulates a Motorola 68K processor. Additionally, Mihocka tries to make the emulator tiny so it can reside on the processor’s cache. “Inefficiencies come from the compiler and the rules of C++.” Mihocka looks at how the processor operates and then hand optimizes his emulator’s code in assembly language to waste as few cycles as possible. “If you write an emulator using the textbook method, it is going to be slow,” said Mihocka. He cited Transmeta’s Crusoe processor as an example. “Products are available that now prove that emulation works,” said Mihocka. Mihocka says that this is no longer the case. So slow that running in emulation is almost unfeasible. Nevertheless, there is the charge that emulators are slow. is working on making SoftMac support the latest version of the Classic Mac OS to take advantage of this. Additionally, Mihocka believes that the softening economy will make users more likely to explore less expensive options instead of paying a premium for a pretty Apple box. Currently, it is possible to build a top of the line AMD system for less than $1,000.Īt some point, and Mihocka suggests that this point is now or very soon, it will make more sense for performance and cost to emulate the Mac OS on X86 hardware instead of buying a new Mac. By consistent price, Mihocka means that, with a specific processor generation, Apple’s high-end models retail for around US$2,500, mid-range desktops for $1,500, and so forth. While X86 based products have dropped significantly in price, Apple products have maintained a consistent price. Mihocka suggests that this break in the curve represents the benefit to consumers brought about by the competition between AMD and Intel. Heat generation is of lesser importance for Intel and AMD, because fans are used regularly. IBM and Motorola have not responded to this desktop competition, perhaps because their offerings need to meet the power consumption and heat generation requirements of the embedded market.

However, the curves of processors from AMD and Intel showed a steep break around the point where AMD began competing directly with Intel. When curves were drawn connecting all of a company’s processors over time, the point was clearly illustrated. Additionally, stiff competition has made these lower priced products rise in performance more quickly than the PowerPC.ĭuring his MacHack presentation, Mihocka drew a chart where he plotted the prices and performances of processors from Motorola, IBM, Intel and AMD. Mihocka believes that the competition between Intel and AMD has resulted in far lower comparative prices for X86 processors. This will allow the company to emulate the Mac OS up to version 9.1. However, the company is working on a software PowerPC emulator for X86 processors. This limits the product to emulating Mac OS software that does not require a PowerPC processor. Emulators’ flagship product, SoftMac, emulates the Mac OS as a standard Windows application.Ĭurrently, SoftMac emulates a Motorola 68K processor on X86 processors from AMD and Intel. President Darek Mihocka boldly suggested at the MacHack conference that low prices and the considerable power of X86 processors make it more attractive than ever to run the Mac OS on X86 hardware instead of Apple hardware.

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