At Ease facts for kids
At Ease 2.0 workspace on System 7
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| Developer(s) | Apple Computer |
|---|---|
| Stable release |
5.0.2 / 1998
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| Operating system | System 7.1 — Mac OS 8.5 |
| Type | File browser/Desktop environment |
| License | Proprietary |
At Ease was a special computer program made by Apple Computer in the early 1990s. It was an easier way to use the Macintosh computer desktop.
This program was designed to help new computer users and young children. It let them use the computer without needing constant help. At Ease took the place of the regular Finder desktop. It showed a simple screen with tabs, like folders. Inside, you would see big buttons with icons for your programs and documents. It also had some safety features.
Contents
What At Ease Could Do
At Ease had several cool features to make computers easier and safer to use:
Panels for Programs and Documents
- When you used At Ease, you saw two main sections, called "panels."
- You could switch between them using tabs.
- One panel showed all your computer programs.
- The other panel showed all your personal documents.
- If a panel got too full, At Ease would create another page for you to use.
Multiple Users on One Computer
- When At Ease first came out, the computer system it ran on, called System 7, didn't easily let different people use the same computer.
- At Ease 2.0 and later versions fixed this.
- It made it simple and safe for many people to share one Macintosh computer.
- Each person could keep their own files separate from others.
Sharing Files Safely
- At Ease also made it possible to share files with other users on the same computer.
Setting Permissions
- The main user of the computer, called the "Administrator" or "Owner," had special powers.
- They could choose which programs and documents each other user could open or use.
User Security with Passwords
- At Ease allowed each user to set their own password.
- This made sure that only the right person could log into their account.
- It helped keep everyone's files private and secure.
At Ease for Workgroups
At Ease for Workgroups was a special version of At Ease for schools or offices. It let many users connect to a main computer, called a server. This meant you could log in from any computer that had At Ease installed.
This version added features for networks:
- It allowed administrators to set up how each computer worked.
- It controlled who could access the network.
- It also limited how people could use the computer.
In the regular At Ease, users had a beige "Applications" folder and a blue "Documents" folder. The workgroup version added more:
- A pink folder would appear if you put a CD-ROM into the computer.
- A green folder would appear if you put in a floppy disk.
- The administrator could control these features for each user.
At Ease for Workgroups also came with a special program for administrators. This program helped them add new users and groups to the network.
At Ease for Workgroups 5 also had a "restricted Finder mode." This mode let the regular Finder desktop work instead of the At Ease panels. It gave quick access to a user's documents, which could be stored on a central server. This restricted Finder mode later became part of Mac OS 9's multiple user feature.
Starting with version 4.0, At Ease was sold as part of a bigger set of tools called the Apple Network Administrator Toolkit (ANAT).
What At Ease Taught Mac OS
Even though At Ease was eventually stopped, some of its ideas lived on.
- Mac OS 9 later added its own built-in support for multiple users. This meant people didn't need a separate program like At Ease anymore.
- You can still see parts of At Ease's design in newer Apple operating systems.
- For example, some people think it influenced iOS, which is the operating system for iPhones and iPads.
- It also looks a bit like the Launcher control panel in older Mac OS versions.
- Even in modern macOS, the "Simple Finder" option is similar to the idea behind At Ease.
See also
- Microsoft Bob
- Mouse Practice
- Launchpad (macOS)
