It was about 2 years and 4 months between the last shipped 68k system and the release of Mac OS 8.5 (first version to not run on 68k Macs), and exactly 3 years between the last professional 68k system (Quadra 950*) and the release of 8.5. It was 3 years between the last pre-G3 Macs and the release of Mac OS X v10.0 (first release not to support 601/603/604 based Macs). It was 4 years and 9 months between the last old world G3s and the first version of Mac OS X to not support them (Mac OS X v10.3).
Given that, I'd guess that from the date that Apple discontinues the PowerMac line that they will continue to make operating systems for them for another 3-4 years.
Timepass said:
Really. I not talking about keep old update around on a web site. I am more talking about updating the OS it self. Once 10.4 came out the only updates add to 10.3 where security updates not bug fixes or things like that (basicly major support dropped). New apps by apple, not dont support the older OS. Like I find it hard to believe that iChat could work on 10.1 and why 10.2 had to pay for it. Then adding more stuff they just dont support there OS as very long. There OS get major support for 1.5 years. Once major support is dropped delevpers stop programing for it. Apple drops it so quickly delevpers stop supporting it when the new on comes up.
Developers don't drop support for older operating systems just because Apple releases a new one... I still use Mac OS X v10.2 as my main OS, which I wouldn't be able to do if developers stopped making apps for it in Oct of 2003.
What happens is that Apple adds features into each new version of Mac OS X that the previous version didn't have, and when developers start writing to take advantage of those features those apps won't work on systems released before those features existed.
There is nothing sinister about that, it is just the way things work.
Compare this to windows world where it was just in the past year windows 2000 lost major support so new programs where no long support by it. 98 lasted until summer 2003 (5 years).
The last update to Windows 2000 was Service Pack 4 in June of 2003. So unless you've been a sleep for two years, I think you are mistaken.
And Microsoft has never released any service packs for Windows 98 or ME. What Microsoft has to do (constantly) is fix holes they ship with their operating systems. Consequently, it seems like Microsoft is taking care of their customer longer, when in fact they are fixing issues that should never have been there to begin with.
Apple has a history of dropping major support for there older OS. What you listed is just support. I stated MAJOR support. There is a difference in the meaning.
Fortunately, unlike the Windows world, this isn't much of a problem.
But maybe you can enlighten us with your extensive knowledge of Apple history and point out examples where this lack of
MAJOR support has been an issue. Though Apple would most likely like people to start using newer stuff, the lack of support for 7.x.x, 8.x.x, 9.x.x and early versions of 10.x.x has not set off alarms warning people to abandon their older systems.
By comparison, users of Windows 98/ME have been told that they are no longer safe now that Microsoft has stopped with the security updates and should move on to something else. I have 4 systems running Mac OS 8.6 (which came out about the same time as Windows 98SE) and there are no issues that I know of with my continued use of them.
Apple doesn't need to provide years of support for their products because, frankly, they aren't flawed by design (like those by Microsoft).
*
It should be noted that the Quadra 950 stayed in production more than a year longer than any other Quadra because Apple continued to use this system with A/UX well into late 1995.