What are Be's Mac OS compatibility plans?

• Dual-boot systems (multiple OSes on one computer system). This level of compatibility is already available in the BeOS, with a "launcher" utility to move from the MacOS to BeOS, and an integrated boot-time "OS Chooser" which allows you to select the operating system to boot into at system start up time.

• File and network access. This capability is built into the BeOS. Mac OS HFS volumes can be mounted and used from the BeOS, and BeOS applications, including the Tracker, have full access to those Mac volumes, just as if they were Be volumes (though without the database and other capabilities -- the BeOS cannot make up for the limitations of HFS), in a read-only mode.

  You can also print to AppleTalk laser printers, etc., and of course, the BeOS' integrated Internet services provide you access to Mac OS, Windows, and Unix machines via standard TCP/IP services such as http (Web) and ftp (file transfer).

• Virtual machine. This is the only part of Mac OS compatibility which Be does not currently plan to provide "in the box" with the BeOS, but third parties are working on solutions, such as SheepShaver.

  Not that this capability will be the "Blue" portion of the Mac OS (System 7.5, 7.6, and 8.0 are being examined) only. We have no plans to host Apple's Rhapsody "Yellow" services on top of the BeOS.

  Of course, the dual-boot system capability will still be there, even with Rhaphsody loaded on another partition (unless Apple does something odd) so, once Rhapsody begins shipping, your BeOS system would be able to play nicely with a Rhapsody installation.