The BeBox Circa 2001

Want to build the ultimate BeOS Dream Machine?

If you are lucky to have a fast network connection, you need a well-supported 10/100BaseT PCI card. 3Com is a well respected brand in this department, and their latest Fast EtherLink XL does not disappoint. Although this is obviously not the cheapest card on the market, $39 will truly buy you some peace of mind here.

However, if you have a different preference, there is only a limited number of other 10/100Mbps network cards that are supported under BeOS, so choose wisely. For now, you should probably go with either Intel EtherExpress or one of the Digital 21xxx-based cards from Kingston, Linksys, NetGear, or SMC.

On the other hand, if you are still stuck with old-fashioned dial-up, the best thing to get is an external modem. One particular maker that has been our long time favorite is US Robotics, which offers serial modems starting at $78. However, we think that some other manufacturers offer better values. For instance, Elsa DataLink 56k Internet sells for only $55. Other respectable brands to consider are Creative Labs, Zoom, and Best Data. But, in essence, any serial (but not USB) modem will do the trick, so it pays to shop around.