BeOS vs. Linux Comparison Chart

Compiled by Scot Hacker, with invaluable feedback from Cal Godot and Chris Herborth

Technology BeOS Linux
Advanced system queries Yes. Data-mining of hard drives unmatched by any OS. Standard Unix "find" command.
Boot time Varies by machine; 7 to 20 seconds avg. Varies; 45 to 90 seconds avg.
Broad application support Around 700 apps and utilities available now, spread across PPC and Intel versions; new software appearing daily. Thousands of applications and utilities available.
Client/server application model Yes. Application server, audio server, network server, etc. all used automically, always. Mixed. Common in the X-Windows GUI for apps, daemons, but not as pervasive.
Cost $69 now, $99 later. Available from Be only; hopefully in stores later. Free to download or distribute; around $30 to purchase CDs and docs. Available from many vendors and stores.
Database-like filesystem Yes. Mode bits plus advanced system querying via attributes of any size or data type. Mode bits only, no advanced attributes. A 3rd-party attributed filesystem is available as an option, but its speed suffers.
Direct graphics access Yes, via BDirectWindow API. OS overhead can be bypassed by writing straight to video card. Possible via an X hack, but not part of system API.
Dynamically loadable device drivers Yes. New filesystems, hardware devices supported by dropping a driver into a folder; no reboot. Yes, similar to BeOS. Many users combine drivers compiled into kernel with dynamic drivers.
Fully journaled filesystem Yes. Meta-data protection, fast boots even after crashes. No. Robust in practice, but caches meta-data. Slow boots after crashes.
Installation With supported hardware, easier and faster than anyone else. As short as 15 minutes. Varies widely (30-60 min.) depending on version and user skill. Still requires much "geek knowledge."
Laptop support Very limited; growing stronger for R4. Broad, but may require individual tweaking.
General hardware support Most common new hardware, growing stronger for R4. Everything under the sun.
Max file size 64-bit filesystem supports files up to 18 petabytes. 32-bit filesystem supports files up to 4 terabytes. A 64-bit filesystem is available as a 3rd-party option, but requires large memory overheads.
Multiple desktops 12 simultaneous workspaces at independent resolutions and colors. This limit will increase in future versions. Unlimited simultaneous login sessions and desktops. Multiple desktops under X and CDE.
Multitasking True pre-emptive. True pre-emptive.
Multi-user Not currently, but infrastructure is in place for a future version; probably Q1 1999. Yes, fully.
Networking -- Non-TCP/IP AppleTalk now; more in the future. Not as robust but much easier to configure and use. X.25, IPX, Appletalk, NetBEUI, others. More difficult to configure and use.
Networking -- TCP/IP Built into system via network_server. Configurable via GUI applet. Compiled into kernel with most distributions. Configurable via text files.
Object-oriented API Yes, from lowest level to highest. In some areas. X is not OO, but some OO wrappers exist (such as QuickTime).
Open scripting architecture Yes. All applications scriptable with any scripting language. No. Scripting support must be specifically coded into place, and even then limited to that particular application and scripting language.
Open-source software model Not for the OS, but many included POSIX utilities are open source. Yes, completely.
Pervasive multithreading Yes. Maximum efficiency via very fine task granularity. Yes, but less efficient, much more coarse. Threads are known as processes.
Plug-in extensible system Yes, Tracker and other areas of system can be extended via "Add-Ons." Apps must be specifically coded to handle plug-ins.
POSIX 1003.1-compliant Almost completely, but unofficially. POSIX apps can be recompiled to run under BeOS easily. Yes, officially and completely.
Processor-agnostic and portable Yes, has run on four different CPU architectures; ports are relatively easy. Runs on more CPU architectures (e.g. Alpha and Sparc), but ports are difficult.
Protected memory Fully. Fully.
Replicant technology Yes. Applications can be embedded in other apps or in the desktop, "freeze dried" and rescuscitated between boots. Nothing similar.
Symmetric multiprocessing Yes. Takes full advantage of any number of processors automatically. Max four processors except in specially coded instances. Apps must be written specifically to take advantage.
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