BeOS was an operating system with a lot of promise but is unfortunately only remembered by the die-hard fans. It still remains as one of those operating systems that even though is no longer developed still has a large following. It’s glory days were shared with that of Windows 98 and is sorely missed by it’s followers.
I had always thought that the original hardware for BeOS was PowerPC but today I learned that it was designed to run using AT&T Hobbit hardware. This week one of the original prototype computers ended up on eBay being sold by a former employee of Be. The auction did not get much publicity and the machine ended up selling for $1,025.00 which might seem high to many people but this is a machine destined to end up in a museum. If the auction had received more publicity and the economic times were better it would have gone for much more.
From the auction:
You’re currently viewing one of two Hobbit BeBoxes that I saved from the scrapheap when I worked at Be, Inc. The first generation of hardware to run BeOS, it features two AT&T Hobbit processors (hence the name) and three AT&T 9308 DSPs. It runs a very early version of BeOS in which the San Jose Sharks logo appears on-screen rather than the Be logo – apparently, Be, Inc. hadn’t yet chosen a logo when the early versions of the OS were being worked on, so the local hockey team’s was co-opted!
Considered a prototype of the later PPC-based BeBox, very few were made before development moved towards the PPC. This one appears to be number 58, and the serial numbers match on both the case and motherboard as shown in the photos. A modem and video card are included, though a monitor, keyboard, and mouse are not. However, any SVGA monitor will work, as will any serial mouse and AT keyboard.
Please note that while this is a functional machine in very good cosmetic shape and has been verified working, it is being sold as-is due to its age. International bidders are welcome, but only US funds are accepted for payment. All shipping charges will be calculated at auction’s end.
If you are looking to try out BeOS there is a clone of it called Haiku and can be downloaded for free from their website.
Check It Out> eBay via OSnews
the bid should have reached way up, up, up… This operating system has some incredible features. We’ll just hope that whoever bought it will be able to use it the right way.