BeBox

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Image:Bebox.jpeg The BeBox was a short-lived dual processor PC, offered by Be Incorporated to run their own operating system, BeOS.

The BeBox made its debut in October 1995 (BeBox Dual603-66). The processors were upgraded to 133 MHz in August 1996 (BeBox Dual603e-133). Production was halted at the end of 1996, following the port of BeOS to the Macintosh, in order for the company to concentrate on software. Be sold around 1000 66 MHz BeBoxes and 800 133 MHz BeBoxes.

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Hardware specifications

Initial prototypes were equipped with two AT&T Hobbit processors and three DSPs.

Of particular note were the CPU load meters on the front of the unit, and the GeekPort in back, which allowed for experimentation.

Two PowerPC 603 processors running at 66 or 133 MHz (a prototype version has also been found with two 200 MHz CPUs, though it was never released to the public)
GeekPort: a digital and analog I/O and DC power connector, 37-pin connector on the ISA bus.
- Two independent, bidirectional 8-bit ports
- Four A/D pins routing to a 12-bit A/D converter
- Four D/A pins connected to an independent 8-bit D/A converter
- Two signal ground reference pins
- Eleven power and ground pins:
  - Two at +5 V, one at +12 V, one at -12 V, seven ground pins.