Still use BeOS to day on my old Dell Dual P-PRO Server (handles dual processors beautifully!) and on my ASUS laptop (PII-366). Gave new life to both machines and when I want to get work done - writing, e-mail and Internet (research) BeOS offers a clean fast and trouble free experience. Sadly I have to use W2K, OSX (nope - do not like it) with Linux being the only relief during my regular work hours - so at home BeOS is a true pleasure - the games are fun too and there are still several programs out there.
Looking forward to the return of BeOS, may it stay true to its roots.
You can actually get plenty done with BeOS for very little effort. It is great if you want a portable system, based on an old low-price laptop (at the turn of Pentium I/II) which you don't want to worry about. BeOS Pro can be bought cheaply (usually bundled with a free/shareware CD for Be) and if you invest in GoBE you have a complete office suite, better than OpenOffice.
This will get you a fast and smooth set-up which will allow you to browse the web, read e-mail, get work done, play mp3's and the choice of games are fair enough for recreation. My set-up (ASUS Laptop PII 366, 128MB, 4.2GB) boots in 9 seconds, starts apps in under 5 seconds, is fast (2x mpg, 2x mp3 and OpenGL (teapot) running at once - no loss), stable, cost me less than $200 (with s/w) - and BeOS found all the hardware.
Great for taking out and about, getting things done without fearing damage to the machine and easy for the kids to understand and play with.
But I agree on the remarks for the review - it did not do BeOS a favour.
Palm (the hardware and software (OS) split should have happened earlier) are destined to commit the same mistake as Apple 10 years before them, losing out because they rested on their laurels. They will end up a niche product, with a following of die hard loyalists - while 2 platforms will emerge leaders. PocketPC/WindowsCE will be the choice of the PC production market, their familiarity with Microsoft (Dell, anyone?) and the already close relationship that Windows OEM licensing has forced upon them, while Symbian will emerge (already has?) as the favourite of mobile phone producers.
The final victor (if one really is needed) will be left to the consumers - do I want a PDA with mobile phone facilities or do I want a mobile phone with PDA facilities?
Lets not forget Linux on the PDA - how many times did I not hear "if only Linux had a PDA" when demonstrating the Palm. Well today it does - several actually, two represent it best; the Zaurus (high-end) and the VR3 (former Agenda). I know you can run Linux on the PSION as such, but they have stopped producing PDA units - the PSION will live on in the guise of Symbian. Linux on the iPaq I won't even get into - hardly noticed it. BUT I fear Linux will not have the success in the world of PDA as it is having in the server and now desktop realms - even Linux users have failed their own PDA. How many have not remarked how it lacks the usability of the Palm, forgetting that the Palm OS was not great in the early days itself.
I myself have used Palm (several) and PocketPC (iPaq, Casio), but my choice today is the PSION 5MX (keyboard) and Agenda VR3 - power and portability (Linux!) - when batteries (long lasting and rechargeable) die the data is kept a loooonnng time. This, together with the calender on my Siemens ME45 (recently changed for an Ericsson T39m*) mobile phone (leaving me less dependent on my PDA's) give me all the information access I need the way I want it. Now if only those 3 items could be joined as one keeping the size of the mobile phone...hmmmmm
Knocking a chip and its "mobo", because you bought it for something it was not meant to be used for - well guess the egg is on your face!
The mini-itx works great at what it is meant to do, low-cost, very low noise, low power consumption, low heat, small footprint - hmmm....lovely in the office enviroment. Does Internet (mail, web), does Office programs and when the boss is out it plays DVD's like a dream. Works as a server too, with file and print and the low-end mini-itx "mobo" (5000) does not even use a fan - less mechanical parts to cause server failure. Give it plenty of RAM (which is cheap today) - supports up to 1GB and give it a fast HDD - supports ATA 100/66/33 and there are some great PCI-graphics cards (GeForce too) out there - the little box will spin nicely but quietly along. There is also a 1U server rack case available for the mini-itx, several telecoms use it.
For most users the mini-itx is great value in price and able to meet most computer user demands, but most importantly it gives choice - which is what it is all about.
Linux, M$ Windows, MacO$, BSD and all the others - its all about choice!
Windows 3.11, was the first Windows that made an upgrade from DOS worthwhile, but when Internet blew in Mac left Windows standing in usability - until Windows 95 (still then some IMHO).
Today I surf with Windows 2KPro SP3 and fullblown Opera, my wife's Mac lacks plenty in the Internet experience by comparison - but she loves it for use with Office, yes M$, to which Windows pales. Linux is great for tweaking, testing, network, security and servers - the more you use it (really use it) the more it grows on you, but it is not my choice for daily tasks - yet!?! Its a matter of choice.
MacO$X (pre-Jaguar) had both speed and hardware problems, but the Jaguar release of today gets almost nothing but praise, but the $-policy Apple adopted with 10.2 has left me with 9.2.2 and YellowDog (YDL). Once again its a matter of choice, the reasons differ - but they are there.
Times change and so do OS's - who knows what a poll will say in 1 year?!
Its all about choice, lets just be ever grateful we have choice....
Tablet PC's have emerged several times in the past, always fascinating and tempting, but never making it.
Compaq had one back in the Winodws 3.x days with detachable keyboard, since then several others have attempted one version or another - Fujitsi-Siemens, IBM with the the TransPad hybrid, but it seems when it comes down to it people want the lower price and the keyboard. Had to get a keyboard for my Palm and went with a PSION in the end, but the tablet PC has its markets (storage, traffic cops, etc) though I do not expect them to make it maintream yet.
The one difference is that now tablet PC's have the marketing force of M$ behind them, which has helped inferior products win before.
Norwegian govt. agencies are already in the process of adopting Linux solutions, after the M$ govt. deal was booted. The University enviroments in Norway are solid in Linux kowledge (Unix too of course) great for recruitment (lets not forget TrollTech). There is a remote education system run on Linux by a facutly (ILS) at the Univ. of Oslo with several schools countrywide participating - at 1/3 of the price that IBM offered an equivalent commercial system based on M$.
I think this article is great and especially China who have already adopted Linux within several govt. agencies. The Olympics are of such importance to them internationally that they would not risk it on a unreliable OS (events like this rely alot on such systems - worked with it at the Winter Olympics in '94). China will make this work and it must really rattle the M$ cage!
When it comes down to it a system is only as secure as its system administrator - installing, implementing, updating, setting user guidelines and making sure these are followed.
Never mind the OS...
My 0,02
What does this EULA imply in the real world - not much different than the rest of them. My data is securely backed up on my Linux server, so should M$ and their lawyers turn up (as if) data on my laptop (W2K SP3) could swiftly and certifiably be destroyed. (Yes, yes adhearing to Dept. of Defense criteria).
What is far more important in the real world is having a safe(r) and productive system and W2K SP3 is the best M$ has to offer - being defacto standard I need to use it due to my clients. (Prefer BeOS, OSX and RedHat Linux, but I need to make money too).
"I know most of you are going to say that it's a Microsoft ploy to get a list of addresses of mod chippers, but that's a little farfetched even by MS standards."
Maybe so, but lets not forget the original Windows Update which did scan the machine and sent info to M$ (they owned up) - what use could this not be put to by M$, as with a list of mod chippers?!
Hehehe...still feel even from 98 (if tweaked correctly) that XP Home is a downgrade, though granted alot of people are elligble for the down/up grade.
But as to Click-N-Run, I do not think it should be under estimated - my wife (certified Novell and longtime sys.adm. in a M$ world) found Linux (Caldera) frustrating, as newly installed programs did not make their presence apparent. Can you then imagine this for newbies or ordinary IU's - this is where Lindows differs from the other distros. There is familiarity bred into the Click-N-Run feature (Win Update anyone) and after the install you are given choices as with a Win or MacOS install. In addition you find a shortcut to the app. in a familiar place. Recognition is all (having been a Sen.Eng. in a Univ, enviroment - incredible how some of the smartest are the biggest IU's!) and Lindows is on the right step for this, with lots of programsreadily available for download and easily installed - included in the price!
Of course would love it if the price got lower, but this is the most viable to M$ and Apple since the deatrh of BeOS (lack of apps) - for ordinary users and newbies.
Well the "upgrade" requires proof of ownership of an earlier Windows of a version which is valid within the "upgrade" license. In addition you get little extra - I mean Home is nothing to write home about. With Lindows you get access to Click-N-Run and the programs available for download there.
But hey, who really cares - XP is not worth an upgrade from 2000 (the best OS by M$ since DOS), while Lindows gives people a chance to choose on their current hardware, while still being able to use their ever precious Office.
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...but only better - beats classic MacOS easily.
Still use BeOS to day on my old Dell Dual P-PRO Server (handles dual processors beautifully!) and on my ASUS laptop (PII-366). Gave new life to both machines and when I want to get work done - writing, e-mail and Internet (research) BeOS offers a clean fast and trouble free experience. Sadly I have to use W2K, OSX (nope - do not like it) with Linux being the only relief during my regular work hours - so at home BeOS is a true pleasure - the games are fun too and there are still several programs out there.
Looking forward to the return of BeOS, may it stay true to its roots.
My 0.02...
"Solutioneer" - sounds nice, shorter than most and says everything "...the one who provides solutions".
My 0.02
You can actually get plenty done with BeOS for very little effort. It is great if you want a portable system, based on an old low-price laptop (at the turn of Pentium I/II) which you don't want to worry about. BeOS Pro can be bought cheaply (usually bundled with a free/shareware CD for Be) and if you invest in GoBE you have a complete office suite, better than OpenOffice.
This will get you a fast and smooth set-up which will allow you to browse the web, read e-mail, get work done, play mp3's and the choice of games are fair enough for recreation. My set-up (ASUS Laptop PII 366, 128MB, 4.2GB) boots in 9 seconds, starts apps in under 5 seconds, is fast (2x mpg, 2x mp3 and OpenGL (teapot) running at once - no loss), stable, cost me less than $200 (with s/w) - and BeOS found all the hardware.
Great for taking out and about, getting things done without fearing damage to the machine and easy for the kids to understand and play with.
But I agree on the remarks for the review - it did not do BeOS a favour.
...installs directly into the brain... ...and "uncle" Bill has the wireless remote.
- "Normal is over rated - and where does that leave me?"
Palm (the hardware and software (OS) split should have happened earlier) are destined to commit the same mistake as Apple 10 years before them, losing out because they rested on their laurels. They will end up a niche product, with a following of die hard loyalists - while 2 platforms will emerge leaders. PocketPC/WindowsCE will be the choice of the PC production market, their familiarity with Microsoft (Dell, anyone?) and the already close relationship that Windows OEM licensing has forced upon them, while Symbian will emerge (already has?) as the favourite of mobile phone producers.
The final victor (if one really is needed) will be left to the consumers - do I want a PDA with mobile phone facilities or do I want a mobile phone with PDA facilities?
Lets not forget Linux on the PDA - how many times did I not hear "if only Linux had a PDA" when demonstrating the Palm. Well today it does - several actually, two represent it best; the Zaurus (high-end) and the VR3 (former Agenda). I know you can run Linux on the PSION as such, but they have stopped producing PDA units - the PSION will live on in the guise of Symbian. Linux on the iPaq I won't even get into - hardly noticed it. BUT I fear Linux will not have the success in the world of PDA as it is having in the server and now desktop realms - even Linux users have failed their own PDA. How many have not remarked how it lacks the usability of the Palm, forgetting that the Palm OS was not great in the early days itself.
I myself have used Palm (several) and PocketPC (iPaq, Casio), but my choice today is the PSION 5MX (keyboard) and Agenda VR3 - power and portability (Linux!) - when batteries (long lasting and rechargeable) die the data is kept a loooonnng time. This, together with the calender on my Siemens ME45 (recently changed for an Ericsson T39m*) mobile phone (leaving me less dependent on my PDA's) give me all the information access I need the way I want it. Now if only those 3 items could be joined as one keeping the size of the mobile phone...hmmmmm
My 0.02
Knocking a chip and its "mobo", because you bought it for something it was not meant to be used for - well guess the egg is on your face!
The mini-itx works great at what it is meant to do, low-cost, very low noise, low power consumption, low heat, small footprint - hmmm....lovely in the office enviroment. Does Internet (mail, web), does Office programs and when the boss is out it plays DVD's like a dream. Works as a server too, with file and print and the low-end mini-itx "mobo" (5000) does not even use a fan - less mechanical parts to cause server failure. Give it plenty of RAM (which is cheap today) - supports up to 1GB and give it a fast HDD - supports ATA 100/66/33 and there are some great PCI-graphics cards (GeForce too) out there - the little box will spin nicely but quietly along. There is also a 1U server rack case available for the mini-itx, several telecoms use it.
For most users the mini-itx is great value in price and able to meet most computer user demands, but most importantly it gives choice - which is what it is all about.
Linux, M$ Windows, MacO$, BSD and all the others - its all about choice!
Windows 3.11, was the first Windows that made an upgrade from DOS worthwhile, but when Internet blew in Mac left Windows standing in usability - until Windows 95 (still then some IMHO).
Today I surf with Windows 2KPro SP3 and fullblown Opera, my wife's Mac lacks plenty in the Internet experience by comparison - but she loves it for use with Office, yes M$, to which Windows pales. Linux is great for tweaking, testing, network, security and servers - the more you use it (really use it) the more it grows on you, but it is not my choice for daily tasks - yet!?! Its a matter of choice.
MacO$X (pre-Jaguar) had both speed and hardware problems, but the Jaguar release of today gets almost nothing but praise, but the $-policy Apple adopted with 10.2 has left me with 9.2.2 and YellowDog (YDL). Once again its a matter of choice, the reasons differ - but they are there.
Times change and so do OS's - who knows what a poll will say in 1 year?!
Its all about choice, lets just be ever grateful we have choice....
My 0,02
Centimos - so it still is my 0,02.
Tablet PC's have emerged several times in the past, always fascinating and tempting, but never making it.
Compaq had one back in the Winodws 3.x days with detachable keyboard, since then several others have attempted one version or another - Fujitsi-Siemens, IBM with the the TransPad hybrid, but it seems when it comes down to it people want the lower price and the keyboard. Had to get a keyboard for my Palm and went with a PSION in the end, but the tablet PC has its markets (storage, traffic cops, etc) though I do not expect them to make it maintream yet.
The one difference is that now tablet PC's have the marketing force of M$ behind them, which has helped inferior products win before.
Just my 0.02
Norwegian govt. agencies are already in the process of adopting Linux solutions, after the M$ govt. deal was booted. The University enviroments in Norway are solid in Linux kowledge (Unix too of course) great for recruitment (lets not forget TrollTech). There is a remote education system run on Linux by a facutly (ILS) at the Univ. of Oslo with several schools countrywide participating - at 1/3 of the price that IBM offered an equivalent commercial system based on M$.
I think this article is great and especially China who have already adopted Linux within several govt. agencies. The Olympics are of such importance to them internationally that they would not risk it on a unreliable OS (events like this rely alot on such systems - worked with it at the Winter Olympics in '94). China will make this work and it must really rattle the M$ cage!
My 0.02
When it comes down to it a system is only as secure as its system administrator - installing, implementing, updating, setting user guidelines and making sure these are followed. Never mind the OS... My 0,02
Well...reading EULAs for "fun" explains alot.
What does this EULA imply in the real world - not much different than the rest of them. My data is securely backed up on my Linux server, so should M$ and their lawyers turn up (as if) data on my laptop (W2K SP3) could swiftly and certifiably be destroyed. (Yes, yes adhearing to Dept. of Defense criteria).
What is far more important in the real world is having a safe(r) and productive system and W2K SP3 is the best M$ has to offer - being defacto standard I need to use it due to my clients. (Prefer BeOS, OSX and RedHat Linux, but I need to make money too).
My 0.02
"I know most of you are going to say that it's a Microsoft ploy to get a list of addresses of mod chippers, but that's a little farfetched even by MS standards."
Maybe so, but lets not forget the original Windows Update which did scan the machine and sent info to M$ (they owned up) - what use could this not be put to by M$, as with a list of mod chippers?!
my 0.02
Hehehe...still feel even from 98 (if tweaked correctly) that XP Home is a downgrade, though granted alot of people are elligble for the down/up grade. But as to Click-N-Run, I do not think it should be under estimated - my wife (certified Novell and longtime sys.adm. in a M$ world) found Linux (Caldera) frustrating, as newly installed programs did not make their presence apparent. Can you then imagine this for newbies or ordinary IU's - this is where Lindows differs from the other distros. There is familiarity bred into the Click-N-Run feature (Win Update anyone) and after the install you are given choices as with a Win or MacOS install. In addition you find a shortcut to the app. in a familiar place. Recognition is all (having been a Sen.Eng. in a Univ, enviroment - incredible how some of the smartest are the biggest IU's!) and Lindows is on the right step for this, with lots of programsreadily available for download and easily installed - included in the price! Of course would love it if the price got lower, but this is the most viable to M$ and Apple since the deatrh of BeOS (lack of apps) - for ordinary users and newbies.
Well the "upgrade" requires proof of ownership of an earlier Windows of a version which is valid within the "upgrade" license. In addition you get little extra - I mean Home is nothing to write home about. With Lindows you get access to Click-N-Run and the programs available for download there.
But hey, who really cares - XP is not worth an upgrade from 2000 (the best OS by M$ since DOS), while Lindows gives people a chance to choose on their current hardware, while still being able to use their ever precious Office.
"Normal is overrated - where does that leave me?"