New version (Zeta) of BeOS demoed!!!

[Palek]

News post on Akiba Website

Sorry, the page is in Japanese. It says Zeta was demoed in Tokyo somewhere on the 6th, and that according to the Japan BeOS Network they are close to release... It seems like the OpenBeOS project is going to take forever to finish, so it's good to hear that something is happening to BeOS. That OS showed so much promise (before MS practically strangled Be Inc. to death), it would be tragic to see it completely disappear.

 

[robisc]

I watched the last Zetz CeBit demo with Bernd and wonder how this one compared, but as you said this site is in Japanese so it is hard to interpret.

 

[SUOrangeman]

Any thoughts on Beos MAX?

-SUO

 

[Palek]

Originally posted by: SUOrangeman
Any thoughts on Beos MAX?

-SUO

Does not look like it will run properly on recent hardware, and all the necessary tinkering will scare away the average user. Without commercial support or the backing of a large group of open source developers, this project is doomed for oblivion.

Here's a page on OpenBeOS development status. Seems like it's going to be a while before we see anything operational from them... But at least they seem to be making some progress.

 

[SUOrangeman]

The only issue I've had with BeOS MAX is the inability to use my USB mouse. I'm just too lazy to connect the PS/2 adapter. And I think I'm running some decent hardware (Dual Athlon, nVidia Ti4600, etc.)

-SUO

 

[Palek]

Originally posted by: SUOrangeman
The only issue I've had with BeOS MAX is the inability to use my USB mouse. I'm just too lazy to connect the PS/2 adapter. And I think I'm running some decent hardware (Dual Athlon, nVidia Ti4600, etc.)

-SUO

Wow!!! So it has support for all of that? That sounds pretty good. Does 3D acceleration work? When you say the USB mouse doesn't work, does that mean that there is no USB support at all, or just no support for USB mice?

I guess I should look into it more! I just wish I had a second machine to play around with, for trying out new OS'es and such. I am a little hesitant to mess with my main rig...

 

[SUOrangeman]

I don't think that BeOS MAX has much in the way of general USB support. I've used nothing more than the standard VESA driver for my nVidia cards, so I haven't begun to touch 3D acceleration.

-SUO

 

[kylef]

before MS practically strangled Be Inc. to death

How exactly did MS achieve that feat? It seemed like the BeOS management were doing a fine job of that all by themselves! When they finally sold out to Palm, it was the kiss of death...

 

[Palek]

Well, here's a recent article off the Register in which Be Inc. accuses MS of heavy-handed tactics. Sounds like normal Microsoft misconduct to me. I do not know the outcome of the case, and Be most likely lost, but as we know Microsoft can get away with murder.

Or how about this old article (back from the days when Magee ran the Reg)? MS licences block Be's bid for PC market

I'd say it's pretty hard for any management team to make profit off an OS that all OEM's refuse to install on their systems. Wouldn't you?