Actually, I find OS 9 perfectly fine for doing "real work" provided you use the right applications.
I have a tangerine clamshell (300MHz, 192MB RAM) running 9.1. I run Word 98, Photoshop Elements 2.0, AppleWorks 5, and MacDraw II on it for productivity on the Mac side. However, I also have Virtual PC (running XP) installed for the sole purpose of using Office 2000 (since I only have Word from Office 98 on the Mac and use Office 2000 for Excel and Access--I don't use PowerPoint on there because I'd rather use Keynote on my MacBook).
The Classilla browser isn't bad and IE 5 still works well for web-based e-mail. I can't configure Outlook Express to work with my e-mail address but web-based e-mail works fine. (Alternately I place the documents I'm sending somewhere on a USB drive and move them over to the MacBook to send--Apple's mail client is so easy to use compared to anything else, especially for attachments).
While I can't use the iTunes music store on OS 9 I do use the machine for AIM and playing chess. When I want to listen to music I simply pop in a CD (which delivers audio quality superior to anything purchased on iTunes).
I especially like the ability to remain productive while using an operating system I prefer. OS X may be superior to a few other operating systems, but it just isn't Mac-like in the sense this 20-year veteran of Apple Computers wants it to be. I'd have to say my biggest disappointment about Leopard is that it just looks drab and depressing--an all-grey appearance? Even System 7 had more color contrast!
I have a tangerine clamshell (300MHz, 192MB RAM) running 9.1. I run Word 98, Photoshop Elements 2.0, AppleWorks 5, and MacDraw II on it for productivity on the Mac side. However, I also have Virtual PC (running XP) installed for the sole purpose of using Office 2000 (since I only have Word from Office 98 on the Mac and use Office 2000 for Excel and Access--I don't use PowerPoint on there because I'd rather use Keynote on my MacBook).
The Classilla browser isn't bad and IE 5 still works well for web-based e-mail. I can't configure Outlook Express to work with my e-mail address but web-based e-mail works fine. (Alternately I place the documents I'm sending somewhere on a USB drive and move them over to the MacBook to send--Apple's mail client is so easy to use compared to anything else, especially for attachments).
While I can't use the iTunes music store on OS 9 I do use the machine for AIM and playing chess. When I want to listen to music I simply pop in a CD (which delivers audio quality superior to anything purchased on iTunes).
I especially like the ability to remain productive while using an operating system I prefer. OS X may be superior to a few other operating systems, but it just isn't Mac-like in the sense this 20-year veteran of Apple Computers wants it to be. I'd have to say my biggest disappointment about Leopard is that it just looks drab and depressing--an all-grey appearance? Even System 7 had more color contrast!