Number 196 - September 1999

Be Operating System
July 13 meeting topic, Charlie Semple, Vice President, LACS
Some of you have asked: "What can we find as another operating system besides MS Windows?" Of course, you KNOW the usual answer. We'll tell more about that one another time. Right now, there's a real "comer" to be considered.     The "Be Operating System" (Be OS) has been introduced by an "upstart" company in Silicon Valley, AND Intel Inc. has been considering investing in Be Inc. to the tune of $25 million.     Why should we be interested in Be OS, besides curiosity? Because Be OS has some very strong MultiMedia capabilities, which ALONG WITH MS Windows can make production, editing and running MultiMedia, faster, simpler and more satisfying.	More and more home-users want to produce and/or edit their own MultiMedia materials on their PC's. Be OS can help them do that, BUT Be OS is also being used more and more by professionals in the business.     Increasing numbers of software developers are offering applications which take advantage of Be OS' capabilities. Some of those are: MGI; Mail-It (e-mail); Cult3D Animation; As digital video equipment becomes more common, Be OS will attract more attention. New technologies for higher speed peripheral connections (e.g. FireWire IEE 1394) and high speed Internet connections will make users and producers want many of the capabilities offered by Be OS.     Note to our "Mac" friends: It's also available for Mac PowerPC.
Number 196 - September 1999