BeOS for PPC

[Krevinek]

Anyone on an older machine actually use BeOS for PPC?

I know Be eventually released a home edition that was free (at least for awhile I think), but it was Intel-only so I have been trying to figure out what BeOS is/was like.

I got a DR8 CD given to me back when it was released, but by the time I had gotten a machine capable of running it, it expired.

This seemed like a very lightweight OS, and I just feel left out now

[kilowatt]

I've got BeOS 5 pro for intel/ppc. Every copy of the pro version comes with the ppc version. Check out ebay.com.. they should be going pretty cheap.

never tried the ppc version though

[symphonix]

I used BeOS 5 for the Intel-PC, and it was quite a memorable OS. The "free" version simply ran from a disk image rather than a separate partition and was limited to 500mb, but of course you could mount the rest of your drive easily once you booted into BeOS.

Yes, it was sparsely supported and lacked much in the way of general applications - I believe someone ported OpenOffice to BeOS not long after its release. What BeOS did well, though, was multimedia ... the OS was optimised for graphics, 3D and video. It could run 3D games such as Quake2 at incredibly good framerates on even the most crummy machines.

It was stable, booted quickly, and behaved well. All the controls made sense and errors brought up useful messages. Its UNIX-like base was apparently not hard to work with for those coming from Linux or Sun, and lots of software was ported across.

I suppose, if you wanted, you could install BeOS on Virtual PC, the results would be hard to guess at.

[Krevinek]

Well, the 8600 was one of those machines that the PPC version was supposed to work with (even if unoffically).

I am still trying to decide what will eventually be running on this thing once I move to a newer machine, and OS X, BeOS and Linux look like contenders.

[adambyte]

For the first time, I feel like an old fart when discussing computers....

I downloaded and installed Be OS (I believe it was version 2) for ppc on my Performa 6400/200. I agree with symphonix, the system kicked multimedia butt. Also, it had a nice platinum-ish look to it. It's a shame Be didn't become more popular.

[symphonix]

As far as I can tell, Be has opted to adapt their BeOS for WebTV and set-top device systems, rather than take on the OS giants.

[AdmiralAK]

I used to have an 8500 on my desk and I ran BeOS from a ZIP disk -- now that was kick ass...hmm... I think I might have a spare 8500 that I could use ;-)... there is a PeeCee here that my bosses want me to use in conjunction to my mac..if I ever get a monitor I will Be+linux+QNX it lol ;-) maybe even AMIGA it


BeOS was quite nice. I have the v5 pro CD and it has a mac version on it, but I am sure its v4.5 of the OS.

[ThE OutsiDer]

Admiral u know the drill....AMIGA it!