First and foremost, In Windows, you use .exe files to execute programs. In Be, these programs don't execute. Workaround? What are the "executables" in Be? (Maybe a dumb question, but I don't know!)

If you can use .exe files... can I set up any Windows programs on Be? Like ICQ? Eudora? Office? Anything? Or is it like another Microsoft and makes software only for it's own OS?

Any good places for drivers that fully support my hardware? All my hardware works, but not to it's full potential by any means.

Why should I choose to use Be over, say, Windows 2000?

What's with this mounting the hard drive stuff?

How do I browse my LAN?

Got tons more.. but let's just leave it at that for now. sandoval1717@excite.com or ICQ 11352183

-- Sandoval (sandoval1717@excite.com), April 08, 2000

Answers

Well, even though you may be running on an Intel box, you are not able to run Windows programs. Although the binary code for both Be and MS programs are intel machine code, MS programs talk to the MS windows operating system and as such would not function talking to BeOS system. Many Unix programs can be orted and run under BeOS as it conforms to the POSIX unix standard.

As for why choose BeOS over Windows2000.. well depends on what you want to do with your computer. Personally I don't like to deal with any company which lies to me and tries to cheat me so I don't use MS products unless my clients requre it. That said, a computer is something used to accomplish something and choose what works best for you. I use Linux, MacOS and BeOS and Windows when I have to.

Drivers are an issue as hard to keep up with all the hardware options.. almost better to build a PC for BeOS using know hardware with a couple CPUs so the multimedia stuff really smokes

-- Jamie Ross (jross@starboundtech.com), April 08, 2000.