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BeOS is OS X in a parallel universe

Posted by on January 26, 2006

Gil Amelio: Information From Answers.com

To replace Copland and fulfill the need for a next-generation operating system for the Macintosh, Amelio started negotiations to buy Be, Incorporated, makers of BeOS, but negotiations stalled when Be CEO Jean-Louis Gassée wanted $400 million, Apple offered $125m maximum. In November 1996, Amelio started discussions with Steve Jobs’ NeXT, and bought the company on February 4, 1997 for $402 million. NeXT’s operating system became the basis for Mac OS X. Amelio later admitted he felt he had overpaid for NeXT.

What would have happened if BeOS had become OS X? I’ve always heard that BeOS was an amazing OS and even saw it at MacWorld one year. It’s probably for the best that the NeXT OS was used instead since Steve Jobs was brought on board.