Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

BeOS
     
         The {operating system} originally designed
        to run on the {BeBox} {microcomputer}.  BeOS is good at both
        {multitasking} and {real-time} operation.  It has a {bash}
        command shell, with ports of many {GNU} programs by Be, Inc.
        It has a {GUI} front end (not {X}).  A {C++} {compiler} is
        supplied with the machine, and there are rumours of other
        languages being ported in the future.
     
        BeOs eventually became used on the {x86} and
        standard {PPC}.
     
        Be, Inc. went bankrupt in 1999, after releasing the last
        upgrade of BeOS (R5.0.3), and was sold to {Palm}.
     
        Several groups are currently (2003) attempting to create an R6
        version of the OS.  The most likely to succeed are {Yellowtab}
        and {OpenBeOS}, which is likely to be renamed.
     
        (2003-05-30)