### 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.

Return to Beos vs. Linux? No Such Fight