The BeBox Circa 2001

Want to build the ultimate BeOS Dream Machine?

The original BeBox had a stunning industrial design, so it would not be appropriate for us to settle for a simple beige case. Some might argue that all that matters is on the inside but we dare to differ. Clearly, solid construction and generous expendability are also important, but we still think that a 21st century computer case should be easy on the eyes as well.

Although there are plenty of options out there, we decided to recommend the great-looking Aqua Blue from ColorCase.com. This case can be fitted with either steel or aluminum chassis and is explicitly certified for use with dual processor systems. ColorCase also offers a choice of noise-reducing power supplies, of which the mid-level 330W unit offers the best value. And, for about $130, the whole thing is only slightly more expensive than any comparable bland box.

However, if the very thought of a case that is anything but utilitarian seems like a waste of your valuable resources, check out the all-time geek favorite - Enlight. While we recently got one of those with a power supply that was dead on arrival, these cases have a well deserved reputation for being among the best. Other alternatives include Antec, A-Top, In-Win, SuperMicro, and Yeong Yang, just to name a few.

Naturally, no computer would be complete without a large monitor and Trinitron FD flat screen tubes are hard to beat. You could certainly get one directly from Sony, but you would be just paying a hefty premium for the brand name. Instead, we suggest you save yourself some cash and order a 19" KDS AV-195TF, which features a 0.24mm aperture grille pitch and a maximum resolution of 1600x1200x85Hz (excellent performance/features). We've seen them sold for as little as $379.

Obviously, there are many other choices, but few contenders have managed to stay on top for a long time. Among them ViewSonic and Samsung are best known for their good values while NEC and Mitsubishi rule much of the high end.

As for the flat-panel technology, it needs to come down in price before we could recommend a "space-saving" monitor. When faced with a choice of a cute-but-tiny 15" flat TFT panel or a giant 21" CRT for about the same price, we somehow tend to prefer the later. Oddly enough, we don't have much passion for electric cars either. We can only hope that Mother Nature can forgive us for not being environmentally conscious...

Then there is the small matter of input devices. We think that you would indeed be doing your own hands a huge favor if you get a good keyboard. A high-quality pointing device, whichever type you fancy most, is also essential. Although some folks like those exotic "ergonomic" shapes, we tend to favor more conventional ones. But either way, if you are ready to go to the next level, make sure that you set yourself free from wires. In fact, we couldn't be happier with the fabulous Logitech Freedom Cordless Desktop, which can be had for mere $55 and includes both a keyboard and a mouse.

Whoever still thinks that a $10 keyboard is "good enough", has never typed a research paper overnight. A poor soul who said that a $5 mouse "would suffice", will be forever left wondering why he cannot get to the next level in his favorite game. And, he who has not experienced the freedom of not having those damn wires cluttering his desktop, will never know how badly his comfort is being compromised. Enough said.

Another often overlooked peripheral is the speaker system. Even if you already have a good standalone A/V setup, you might still want to listen to music while working on your PC, particularly if you have a collection of MP3 files. Besides, BeOS is a "MediaOS", so it's only appropriate to give it a chance to shine at what it does best.

Our current favorite is Monsoon MM-700 flat panel speaker set from Sonigistix which has earned a number of "Editor Choice" awards. Not only do these speakers sound great but they also look fantastic. And, at just $114 you would be hard pressed to find a better value on a 3-piece powered multimedia system.