BeOS client

[QIbHom]

I'm considering putting one of my computers back on BeOS. There is a df client for it, but I don't remember any talk about it. Does anyone have any experience with the BeOS client? How does it compare to the Linux client? Any gotchas?

I miss BeOS. It was so awesome. And I generally hate GUIs <g>.

[Chinasaur]

QIbHom,

I last used the BeOS client on DF last year sometime. As much as I love Be, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but I gotta warn you off BeOS for DC.

Every DC client I ever used on Be suffered dramatically reduced performance. I've run dNet, DF, S@H, SOB; and all suffered reduced throughput compared to Linux running on the same box. Back when Dyy's script worked, I would see differences of between 20 and 50K a day/per box on DF between BeOS and Mandrake 8.1. I tried asking some BeOS programmers, but no one had any idea why Be would be slower.

It's counter-intuitive I know, but the only thing I can think of is the same thing that makes Be so good...the scheduler. IANAP so I'm not sure this is the correct reason...just my guess. BeOS is fast, fast, fast ... but I think that which makes it fast also slows it down on straight computation. Be didn't have time to completely rewrite the kernel and sub-system prior to shutting down.

One thing you might try (if you do a BeOS install) that I haven't had the resources to do. Go to www.openbeos.org and download and install the new BeFS file system. It's possible that recent optimizations might have an impact.

Either way, do a Be install and burn a Knoppix CD. Run Be for a half hour on DF and then boot Knoppix and run DF for a half hour and see which gets further :(


:cheers:

[QIbHom]

Thanks, Chinasaur. This was exactly what I was looking for. I use my scratch box only for df and for beta testing Libranet, so I don't want to switch it to BeOS if it is going to be a lot slower. I have this silly fantasy I'll make it into the top 20 for Free-DC <g>.

It is counterintuitive. I remember the first time I installed BeOS, how much faster it was than OS/2 or Windows 98 SE (I know, I know - had to use Windows for work).

Maybe I'll try to install it on my laptop instead. It is too slow to use for crunching, and it might work. Maybe. Did I mention I have lots of silly fantasies?

I really know how to pick OSes. I stuck with DOS much longer than most folks, was an OS/2 fanatic, then switched to BeOS. Makes me wonder if Linux is doomed <g>.

[Chinasaur]

I would still be using Be, but I can't afford to run a box that isn't producing..or producing at the highest possible rate.

At least you didn't include the Amiga in your list... although there are one or two of them lurking about Free-DC ;)


:cheers:

[QIbHom]

If that Amiga had been US$50 cheaper, my first computer would have been an Amiga. I used to play with my cousin's Amigas, and they were nifty. Populous rocked! Instead, I ended up with an 8088. It was the only way I could afford that Yamaha 550 Maxim, too.

I fear I got into computers a bit late, though, to have truly been sucked into the Amiga cult. I try to make up for it now <g>.

Oh, and it wasn't MS DOS I was in love with. No, I used Novell DOS. No wonder I ended up as a CNE.

As I said, I know how to pick 'em.

Since I use Solaris at work, maybe folks should sell their Sun stock.