Is multimedia's future bleu?
Article Abstract:
Be Inc's BeBox PowerPC-based system runs on the company's BeOS operating system, which offers several advantages over existing operating systems, especially for multimedia tasks. It is a multitasking, multiprocessing system for high-throughput applications and can play several audio and video windows at once. It allows real-time interaction with streaming data and has an integrated database. The BeBox has a CD-ROM drive, Fast SCSI support, 16-bit audio, standard PCI and ISA slots and many media I/O slots. BeBox's starting price of $1,600, with a fully-configured system costing about $2,500, compares favorably with $8,000 Mac, Windows, NT and UNIX workstations. The 30-person Be has sold 800 BeBoxes to developers specializing in music, video and Internet applications, and it has brought in $14 million in venture capital in Apr 1996. Large developers like Adobe, who are searching for low-cost, high-performance platforms, are also interested in Be.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Nonlinear video reigns at NAB
Article Abstract:
Eight video editing systems demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters show are discussed out of which six are non-linear systems and two linear/non-linear hybrid systems. Seven range in price from $8,000 to $49,000, while the eighth, a truly versatile system called Media Spectrum made by Avid Technology Inc, sells for $675,000. Scitex Digital Video Inc's ImMIX Microsphere system with True Vision's latest Targa 2000 RTX dual-M-JPEG code board and Apple Macintosh editing software costs $13,500 for the basic system to $29,500 for a Power Mac 9500 turnkey system. PostSuite, a Windows-based workstation made by D-Vision Systems using the DigiMotion card, lies in the price range of $23,500 to $49,900, depending upon the type of processor used in the turnkey system. Avid Technology Inc's MCXpress costs $14,995 for board-and-software or $27,995 for the complete system.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Multimedia presentation software comes of age. Dynamic design and slick software. Reel to real-video assets
- Abstracts: Desktop CD recording shootout. Picture the sound: Digidesign's PostView 3.2. The plot thickens
- Abstracts: The Internet as telephone: Fad or future? The look of links: CD-ROM/online hybrids. Fresh blood
- Abstracts: Fast's latest edits a blue streak. Sun and Integraph power up 3-D offerings against SGI. Digital video's new age