This operating system introduced many features that would appear for years to come, some that still exist in the current
macOS, and a few that exist in other graphical operating systems such as
Microsoft Windows. The features of the operating system included the
Finder and menu bar. In addition to this, it popularized the
graphical user interface and
desktop metaphor, which was used under license from
Xerox PARC. Due to the limited amount of
random-access memory and the lack of an internal
hard disk in the original Macintosh, there was no multitasking with multiple applications, although there were
desktop accessories that could run while another application was loaded. Also, items in the Trash were permanently deleted when the computer was shut down or an application was loaded (quitting the Finder). System 1's total size is about 216 KB. It comprised six files: System (which includes the desk accessories), Finder, Clipboard, an
Imagewriter printer driver, Scrapbook, and Note Pad. A separate diskette included "A Guided Tour of Macintosh", which contains tutorial demonstrations of the Macintosh system, running on a modified pre-release version of Finder 1.0, as well as training programs for learning to use the mouse, and the Finder. Also included was a 33-minute audio cassette designed to run alongside the demonstrations, emphasising the disk's purpose as a guided tour.
Menu bar The
menu bar was a new and revolutionary part of the OS. Similar to the one found on
Lisa OS, the System 1 Finder had five menus: the
Apple menu, File, Edit, View, and Special. When in an application, the menus would change to ones defined by the application, but most software retained at least the File and Edit menus. While within the
Finder, the Apple menu contained the "About the Finder" information, along with the
desktop accessories. "File" menu items included Open, Eject, and Close. "Edit" had entries for
cutting, copying, and pasting. "Special" was used for managing the hardware and other system functions, and was always the rightmost entry on the menu bar in the Finder. In System 1, the menu had items related to emptying the
Trash, cleaning up the desktop, and disk options. By System 1.1, the menu allowed the user to choose an alternate startup program to be run instead of the Finder at boot time; the feature was replaced in
System 7 by the "Startup Items" folder in the
System Folder.
Desk accessories System 1 came with multiple desk accessories (DAs). These included an Alarm Clock, Calculator, Control Panel, Key Caps, Note Pad, Puzzle, and Scrapbook. One difference between desktop accessories and applications is that multiple desktop accessories could be run at once but only one application could run at a time. Desk accessories could also run on top of an application. • Alarm Clock: This DA could be used just like an alarm clock, as the computer would beep, and the menu bar would flash, when the alarm's set time was reached. It could also be used as an easier way to change/set the time and date on the computer. When opened, it would show the time and date set on the computer. •
Calculator: A basic calculator capable of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It featured the basic 18 buttons for input. •
Control Panel: The control panel was used to adjust some of the settings on the computer. What made the original control panel unique from subsequent Mac OS control panels was the intended absence of any text. This was chosen to demonstrate the graphical user interface. Representation was achieved by using symbols. It could be used to adjust settings such as volume, double click speed, mouse sensitivity, and desktop background. On the
Macintosh 128K,
Macintosh 512K,
Macintosh Plus, and
Macintosh SE, the screen brightness was controlled by a mechanical adjustment wheel beneath the screen. • Key Caps: A DA used to show the layout of the original
Macintosh keyboard. It showed which
special characters could be produced when normal keys were pressed along with
modifier keys (Command, Shift, Option). • Note Pad: A note-taking DA that would save text entered into it on the floppy disk. Multiple note pages could be accessed via the folded corner symbol in the bottom-left corner of the note page. • Puzzle: A basic 1–15 slide puzzle, similar to the picture puzzle found in later versions of the Mac OS. •
Scrapbook: This DA was similar to a
cut, copy, and paste library. It allowed the user to store text selections and graphics which could then be transferred to other applications. ==See also==