Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Apple

Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

By Fox Van Allen May 3, 2016, 4:21 PM PDT

Image
1
of 19

apple-macintosh-computer.jpg
apple-macintosh-computer.jpg
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

A visual history of Apple splash screens

audioundwerbung/iStock

A visual history of Apple splash screens

Apple computers are blazing fast these days. But not too long ago, it’d take forever for these powerful desktops to get started, leaving you to anxiously sit through a deluge of startup screens and loading bars.

Here at TechRepublic, we thought it’d be a fun to reminisce about the loading screens of Mac days gone by. Whether you were an iMac faithful, or simply used a IIGS to play Oregon Trail in elementary school, these simple splash screens will fill you with a warm sense of digital nostalgia.

And if you’re a PC loyalist? That’s cool — we have a companion Windows splash screen gallery just for you.

audioundwerbung/iStock
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Apple Pascal (1979)

Steven Weyhrich, Apple II History

Apple Pascal (1979)

Apple Pascal was first released to the public in August 1979.

Steven Weyhrich, Apple II History
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Apple III SOS 1.3 (1982)

Apple

Apple III SOS 1.3 (1982)

The Sophisticated Operating System (SOS) was developed for the Apple III computer. It was first released in October 1980 (and updated through November 1982).

Apple
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Apple Lisa OS 1.0 (1983)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Apple Lisa OS 1.0 (1983)

The Apple Lisa, released on January 19, 1983, was one of the first personal computers with a graphical user interface.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS System 1.0 (1984)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS System 1.0 (1984)

Mac OS System 1.0, the operating system for the original Macintosh, was released on January 24, 1984.

The desktop-based OS was the first to introduce the popular “Happy Mac” icon.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Apple II ProDOS 16 (1986)

Steven Weyhrich, Apple II History

Apple II ProDOS 16 (1986)

ProDOS 16, first released in September 1986, was the first operating system for the Apple IIGS computer.

Steven Weyhrich, Apple II History
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS System 3.0 (1986)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS System 3.0 (1986)

Mac OS System 3.0 was introduced with the Mac Plus computer in January 1986.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

GS/OS 5.0.4 (1991)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

GS/OS 5.0.4 (1991)

The Apple IIGS computer showed this loading screen following the release of Apple IIGS System Software 4.0 (GS/OS) in September 1988.

This screenshot was taken of GS/OS System 5.0.4, which was released in February 1991.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

GS/OS 6.0.1 (1993)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

GS/OS 6.0.1 (1993)

The final GS/OS System update, 6.0.1, arrived in March 1993.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS System 7.5.3 (1996)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS System 7.5.3 (1996)

The System 7 operating system took on the new name “Mac OS” during the release of version 7.5.1.

Mac OS 7.5.3, shown here, was released for the Power Mac 6200 on January 1, 1996.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS 8.0 (1997)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS 8.0 (1997)

Mac OS 8, the first operating system of the new Steve Jobs era at Apple, was released on July 26, 1997.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
rhapsodydr2-1-3.png
rhapsodydr2-1-3.png
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Apple Rhapsody Developer Release 2 (1998)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Apple Rhapsody Developer Release 2 (1998)

Rhapsody was an unreleased-to-the-general-public OS developed by Apple between 1997 and May 1998.

The operating system would become Mac OS X Server 1.0 in 1999.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS 9.0 (1999)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS 9.0 (1999)

Mac OS 9 was released on October 23, 1999.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
mac-os-9-2.jpg
mac-os-9-2.jpg
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS 9.2 (2001)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS 9.2 (2001)

Mac OS 9.2, built into Power Mac G4 computers, was released on January 9, 2001.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS X 10.1, first screen (2001)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS X 10.1, first screen (2001)

Mac OS X 10.1, better known as Puma, was released on September 25, 2001 as a free update.

Happy Mac just got colorful!

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS X 10.1, second screen (2001)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS X 10.1, second screen (2001)

Mac OS X 10.1 also featured this updated loading screen.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
macosx102-1-1.png
macosx102-1-1.png
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Apple OS X Jaguar (2002)

Apple

Apple OS X Jaguar (2002)

OS X Jaguar (10.2) is the first Apple OS to use the iconic “grey Apple” splash.

The operating system was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2002.

Apple
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Mac OS X Panther (2003)

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Mac OS X Panther (2003)

Mac OS X Panther (10.3) was released on October 24, 2003.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

Thanks for looking!

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org

Thanks for looking!

And … that’s it! With computer processor speeds ever increasing, Apple eliminated its traditional loading screen with Mac OS X 10.5.5.

A special thanks to Steven Weyhrich, owner of Apple II History and author of Sophistication & Simplicity, The Life and Times of the Apple II Computer, for graciously sharing his older Apple screenshots with us. Thanks, too, to GUIdebookgallery.org‘s Marcin Wichary for graciously sharing from his excellent GUI screenshot archive with us.

For more computing nostalgia here at TechRepublic, be sure to check out our Visual History: Windows splash screens from 1.01 to 10 gallery.

Marcin Wichary/GUIdebookgallery.org
  • Apple
  • Software
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Apple startup screens from 1979 to today

    Your email has been sent

Share: Apple startup screens from 1979 to today
Image of Fox Van Allen
By Fox Van Allen
Fox Van Allen is a Los Angeles-based writer for CBS Interactive covering technology, tech lifestyle and gaming topics for GameSpot, CNET, ZDNet and TechRepublic. He has previously worked as a news and feature writer for a number of other sites, inclu
  • Account Information

    Contact Fox Van Allen

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Fox Van's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    GDPR Data Breach Notification Letter

    In the current business environment, it is almost inevitable that an organization will experience a security breach that exposes collected personal data to unauthorized access. Under the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, regardless of the severity of the security breach, organizations must inform their EU customers and stakeholders of the incident in a ...

    Published:  October 2, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  October 3, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring Kit: Technical Recruiter

    Finding and recruiting competent talent for a business enterprise is an essential part of HR management. Overall success in a competitive business world is often a product of the quality of people hired to fulfill specific job roles. This need for quality people can be particularly intense for HR professionals filling technical positions. This hiring ...

    Published:  October 2, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  October 3, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Security Awareness and Training Policy

    A security policy is only as valuable as the knowledge and efforts of those who adhere to it, whether IT staff or regular users. Understanding the importance of computer and network security, and building accountability for these concepts, is critical to achieving organizational goals. The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to describe ...

    Downloads
    Published:  October 2, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  October 3, 2023, 10:00 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Anti-Discrimination Policy

    Despite heightened efforts to address workplace diversity, equity and inclusion, many workers are still experiencing discrimination at work. The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to provide guidelines for anti-discrimination within the company. From the policy: RELEVANT TRAINING The company acknowledges that discrimination can occur unconsciously, since everyone has prejudices that can be ...

    Downloads
    Published:  October 2, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  October 3, 2023, 8:42 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice