It's
time for a new BeBox
Most BeOS users
know about the long defunct BeBox, that almost gaudy machine with double PowerPC
603 processors, a Geekport (what it really was), and 4 serial ports. This machine
was built to run BeOS, and BeOS was built to run on it. This was almost an Apple-like
approach that Be halted a few years ago.
Now
that the BeOS runs on every generic PC and non-G3/G4 Power Mac (for the most part),
it is time for Be to create a new BeBox to make a hardware statement, which would
be, in essence, "This is the type of hardware BeOS is supposed to run on." They
can afford it, they apparently raised some decent funds from their IPO.
Did
you hear about those new systems shipping with BeOS installed? All those are nothing
but the most generic PCs you can imagine shipping with BeOS preinstalled. They
look like pure Windows machines, and the average person looking at them simply
would not think otherwise. One exception is BeMachines, but they just use some
weird case designs to spruce up their machines.
I
am talking about more than looks here though, this machine would be a 100% BeOS
optimized system, all the edgy hardware works, and without flaw. Guaranteed. Development
for such a system would be next to nothing, except for my first example system,
and even that would still use mostly standard PC hardware, therefore making the
BeBox relatively inexpensive for a high powered workstation (in the $1600 range).
My first example
is simply an evolution of the original BeBox, though it is the least plausible.
It has double PowerPC processors, and a motherboard based on the newly opened
IBM CHRP specification. Now, such a machine would need a new motherboard developed,
and a contract to get some PowerPC chips, but that is about it for the hardware.
Everything else would be standard PC components, which I'll list later. Now, I
know the PowerPC seems to be on its way out for the BeOS, but I believe Be should
keep supporting it, simply it is a great processor that is eventually going to
come of its own and break the shackles Apple has put on it.
My
second, more feasible example could be a double Celeron unit based on an Abit
BP6 motherboard. Now, dual processing a Celeron is not supported by Intel,
an apparently big investor in Be, so this might be a problem. Sacrificing low
cost (in a big way), maybe we better move that to a double Pentium
III FCPGA setup with a good motherboard that supports all the new features.
As far as components
go, graphics and video should go through an all-in-one card such as the Matrox
Marvel G400-TV. I like Yamaha for sound chips, and here
is a great example of a good sound card based on the YMF-744 chip. How about storage?
Well how about double Ultra ATA-66 drives setup in a manner similar to a RAID
on a SCSI system? Apparently it can be done with ATA-66, and should offer a good
kick in the pants as far as drive speed. Be also needs to include a good 10/100
card, but I would let the new owners install their own modem if they want it.
Be should dump the floppy and offer a CD-RW and Zip drive. This machine also needs
1 Firewire, 4 USB, a parallel, and one serial port. Now, I know that all this
is not supported in BeOS right now, but could be with relative ease. Besides,
this machine was built to run BeOS, and BeOS can be tweaked to run on it.
Externally,
the machine should have a good case design that looks as nice as Apple's G4, and
I would stay away from black. It should be decently expandable but it the machine
should be as compact as possible. Maybe resurrect those processor lights for a
retro effect. Also, the machine should have a small LCD (like a Palm or cell phone)
on top to be a shortcut to adjusting system settings for things like the CD drive,
system information, and things I cannot even imagine. Be would not have to offer
their own monitor or printer to go with this unit, but maybe hint at some good
options by offering them for sale along with the new BeBox on the Be Store.
So
there you have it, a great new BeBox that is a trendsetter. I believe such a machine
would bring more credibility to Be and their OS, as people often feel more comfortable
making good assumptions about software when it is run in its prime environment.
Ship this baby out to those tough reviewers and see what they say then about Be.
One
of the few sites still out there with information about the original BeBox.
