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Originally the BeOS was developed on the BeBox, a PC designed by Be with off-the-shelf components, two processors a few additionals like the GeekPort and funky colourful exteriors and it did the job. There were no really affordable multi-processor systems at the time so the BeBox was essential to getting the ball rolling. Then in past the 18 months or so they've moved over to the PowerPC platform which had several benefits. Firstly a larger market than that of the BeBox, a better processor and it allowed Be to get out of the hardware market. They loved the BeBox but the BeOS was their product and as with any startup money was scarce so the gently killed the BeBox. In the meantime it appears, with the help of Intel engineers, they've been porting the BeOS over to the x86 architecture. The design of the BeOS makes such ports relatively easy work. And look at the huge market they've now got open to them. And even though the actual x86 processors are inferior to the PowerPC processors, the PC as a whole has better performing components due to the increased and extended competition experienced in that market. Now before the Mac faithful scream and kill us all at that statement: I believe (and so does Be) that the PowerPC has a lot of potential in it but it hasn't yet been achieved. Partly because of the non-existent marketing from the PowerPC producers (IBM/Motorola/Apple) and partly because the cloners haven't been around long enough. But soon enough they'll start fine tuning those motherboards and tweaking those buses until we get some really screaming systems. That's if Apple continues with licensing...if they don't then I'm afraid that PowerMac I'm after will be struck off the shopping list. For more information see: Apple, Be, Power Computing & Motorola |
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© 1997 j-dom media. contact us. |
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by Jason P. Kitcat [e-mail him] |
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