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Overview: BeOS is a 64 bit operating system designed for high-performance processors and optimized for multiprocessor, media-based systems. It is based on a symmetric multiprocessing architecture that speeds operations and provides the foundation for an efficient, high-performance system. BeOS runs on standard IBM compatable systems and offers both a user friendly GUI and a command line environment. While this OS is more expensive than Linux it makes up for the difference in cost by offering a streamlined GUI and a more "finished" product. Approximately 1000 software titles exist for BeOS.

Info: BeOS Installs on desktop or laptop systems in an extremely shoprt time, less than 60 min. It can be placed on a seperate partition and run alongside Windows, Linux, UNIX, Mac OS, etc. Its default partitioning software allows the OS to partition a Win 9x hard drive and install BeOS automatically. BeOS understands common file types and disk formats, so you can read and copy files from other operating systems. BeOS is expandable allowing the addition of to eight processors to meet your performance and productivity needs. No software reconfiguration is needed to add additional processors.

The actual OS code is very small and is able to load driver functionality when it needs it, and then free the memory afterwards. This keeps the kernel small and fast unlike other operating systems which load everything you need regardless of whether your system requires it or not.

BeOs was originally designed for use on PowerPC-based systems however, it runs well alongside a "general purpose OS" such as Windows 9x or the Mac OS. (See the BeOs home page for current processor support information.)

Technical Info:
Minimum requirements for Intel based processor.

A BeOS Ready processor and motherboard chipset.
32 megabytes of RAM.
An IDE or SCSI hard disk or hard disk partition with 150 megabytes of space.
An IDE/ATAPI or SCSI CD-ROM drive.
A graphics card capable of VESA graphics.
USB, PS/2, or serial connected mouse and keyboard.

BeOS for Intel Architecture is compatible with all Pentium-compatible processor(s), including the following:

Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium, Intel Pentium MMX, Intel Pentium Pro, Intel Pentium II
Intel Pentium II Xeon ,Intel Pentium III ,Intel Pentium III Xeon
AMD Athlon ,AMD K6, K6-2, K6-III
Cyrix 686MX, 686GXm (but not the M1)
IDT WinChip C6, WinChip 2
Rise mP6

BeOS should run on any truly Pentium-compatible processor, whether it's on this list or not. As long as it is an Intel Pentium or true clone, it should work. More information on BeOs compatability can be found here.

Pros/Cons:

Pros: BeOS is a powerful 64 bit operating system expandable up to eight processors.
Pros: BeOS features a well designed GUI which is very user friendly.
Pros: BeOS can be easilyloaded next to WIN 9x, UNIX, Mac, or Linux.
Pros: BeOS is available for $100.00 est
Cons: Limited number of software titles available (though more are always on the way).

Price: BeOs 4.0 is priced at $100.00 est.

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