Interview With Michael Paine. Sep 14, 2003 08:05 UTC, by Chris Simmons, Senior Journalist From the back-in-time department... The BeOSJournal sat down with the infamous "Minox", who not only runs the largest BeShare server in use, but is also a major BeOS reseller. Michael Paine is his real name, and he's been around for quite a number of years. We're glad of that, but we've never had the time to actually sit down with him and discuss his views on life, the universe, and everything Be. TBJ : Welcome Michael to our informal chat session. ;=) (ironic.. sorta.) MP : heh, thanks. I'll start by asking the most obvious of questions... How did you start with BeOS, and why have you stuck with it all these years? I first heard of BeOS in 1996 (or was it '97) in an article I read about this new PC that can have upto 8 CPUs and ran it's own OS called the BeBox and BeOS repectively. The article went on to explain there were no apps and you had to code your own. Being the programming handicapped person I was I passed it by and settled for Windows. A few years later I was working with Wally (writer Peter David's brother) and he brought a BeOS R4 or R4.5 demo CD (I forget which) to work and told me how he saw a Demo of BeOS at his local computer user group and said it was neat but the demo giver spent more time showing how you can close crashed apps and I figured why use something else that crashed like Windows and has less apps of which I have to program myself? I stuck with NT 4.0 at home. A year later my brother came for a visit for Christmas and he said his old college roommate was using this OS called BeOS and told me several great things about it so I d/l the PE version and then 2 days later went to the store and got the R5 Bible bundle at BestBuy. This was Dec of 2000 and I sadly missed the BeOS hayday as it were but wow what a ride it's been since then and I wouldn't trade it for anything. No regrets, except maybe the Be Inc story's conclusion... but as they say the future is not yet written.. I love the community and the apps are useful for my needs and I don't have to deal with what I use at work day in and day out at home as well.. + no virus :-) How did you become a BeOS reseller? Were you already involved with computers in general at the time and decided to also sell BeOS? From the mid 90's to present I have been a PC reseller but I don't push it hard as it is a lowly second income but I do phone support for TuneTracker Systems. I was using BeOS and I loved the community and I wanted to give something back to them so I figured why not add another reseller as a place for people to get their sofware I called Gobe and worked out the details and I sent over a signed copy of my reseller agreement and then I was off I sold everything they did and I could sell PCs with BeOS as well. How has working with TuneTracker Systems been for you? I have a semi-steady stream of calls for stations needing help setting up the OS - it seems that is one area OSBOS groups need to work on - the automated install of OBOS et al. Especially on a PC with Windows already. It's funny. When I started using BeOS I would call Gobe all the time for help on little things and I spoke with Kurt Von Fink - Hey Mneptok! - and he always helped me out. Later on I found myself doing the same things he used to but instead of him helping me I was helping others. What is your "day job"? I work as Manager of Network Administration for a cosmetic skincare company. I manage the IT department. Have you considered transferring your work experience over to helping OBOS in some way? Do you want to be a programmer, or help them at all? I have started C++ programming in BeOS and although it's slow going I have been able to contribute largely to the core code of Workspaces - In fact I think it was derived from my app AltWorkspaces. I would help them out anyway possible, if asked. What sort of challenges are in managing an IT department? Is it mostly a linux environment? Could BeOS be used in an IT department, at least where you work? Our company is made up of WIn2k boxes and a few G4 Macs - unless BeOS had a GREAT interface for DB apps or an Exchange client I don't see it going there anytime soon. I would love to use BeOS as my daily OS at work but we have no client for terminal services, I would use TS for apps I need at work and BeOS to keep my desktop virus proof :-) As far as IT management callenges.... It's always challenging to keep an M$ ship afloat even in the calm sea of skincare :-P Seriously, I love my job, I work with a great team of capable people and I enjoy the feeling I get from helping others survive in this M$ environment we are trapped in. A lot of people have suggested that one of the downsides of having an operating system with the ease of use that BeOS is known for is that there would be less "technical support" type calls by end users. Do you feel this is true? Should OpenBeOS be made harder to use so that IT professionals are kept employed? ;) It's not the ease of use that keeps IT professionals employed. It's the 1,000s of people working to find, test, and exploit an OSes weaknesses that does. If BeOS was as widespread as Windows was trust me we would be kept very busy fixing problems people uncovered and exploited - can you say "ultimate beta test"? so the short answer is - no. If people enjoyed using their computers because they can get something done - isn't that remenisent of the early 80's? Remember a C64 crashing hard on you every day? I don't. I think PCs get a bad rep from Windows not from the hardware... let a new kid move in and show their stuff! What one thing is lacking on BeOS that you would love to see fixed by waving a "magic wand"? Well, I have 2 answers... for home users: networking for businesses: multi user Of course these two go hand in hand... :-P Care to elaborate a little more? Would multi user be done the same as what's in Windows XP, Linux, or Mac OSX? What is the "Be Way" of multi user? I would say *nix-like but with their own flair or style... has always been the Be Way. Regardless fixing either issue won't bring users to this OS. I think if we look back in time and see where Microsoft started we can learn something. I mean they were once the OS with no apps and less users. How did they do it? We have to do something similar. Yes we all have our own feelings about M$ and Billy G, but like it or not he is a good business man and we have some points to learn. Shrewd he may be...but effective. What ideas do you have about getting the word out about BeOS? well, let's learn from the past... and present. Be gave Demos. *nix gives away free and cheap bundles, but both have limited results. Other options have large expenses.... grassroots has merit and works. The problem has always been... Why should I leave the OS I have now and switch to this one that has less apps? If we can have a valid reason for people just showing them they can get all their work done easily without having to recompile apps and kernels and such everytime there is a new version then they will switch and stay - some will never switch, some can't wait to - they just don't know how. In the consumer 's mind they have 3 options: Windows Mac *nix Windows People know and they don't like the bugs but feel trapped as it is what they have to use for work. Macs People feel they are for artsy types and music makers. *nix People are uninformed about it and think it's scary as they don't know about it and they see even less of it. I am talking about the consumer here not the TechHeads. Is there a niche market for BeOS? Certainly. TuneTracker shows that. There are many applications. Biblio is another. My Mother runs her tanning salon on apps for BeOS, as I am slowly coding her a custom app - Apollo. it's slow going so don't ask - unless you want to help :-) Can you explain "Biblio" for me? Biblio is an app "Cube-ness" (from BeShare) and I started a LONG time ago and he went off and left me by learning Python and BeThon and finished his app - it's a library system application he has pushed out to several schools. I stuck with C++ and he moved to PyThon. Stuck being such an accurate term... I am stuck in C++, my mind doesn't wrap around it well. Let's switch tracks for a moment... ;) Are you married? What are your hobbies, and what do you like to do for fun on the weekend? Heh, I'm not married at the moment but keeping the application desk open. Hobbies... BeOS programming when I get the time. I do video post production and create DVDs of my childhood cartoon series. I am building a theater at the moment - so carpentry and such could be listed as another hobby. This past april I got my dream car and I do my own repairs so my Delorean has turned me into a bit of a gearhead. Weekends are filled with drinking, pool, movies, reading, listening to music, chatting on BeShare, relaxing on the deck. Who can pass up on 3am BBQing in the summer months. :-) Of course I also fit in BeOS phone support weekday evenings and weekends as well... I have a hand to play in Dane's well-being for TuneTracker ya know - can't let my friends down. Would you describe yourself as a power user of BeOS? What three applications do you recommend as "must install" for new users? After spending as much time with BeOS as I have; doing support and running my business with it I would consider myself a power user - yes. 3 must have apps.... - Process Controller - BeShare for the community link it provides - Pheonix/Firebird - we all have to do our banking don't we? There are so many other apps that are used daily it's hard to choose just 3, but that would be my picks. What do you think of Zeta? Have you been able to get any inside information since you're a BeOS reseller? I think Zeta is in an interesting position as they have access to the Palm held IP - or so I believe. They have the chance to be THE next BeOS link. We'll see how things play out but marketing and presentation of the company and the product play a HUGE role in peoples perceptions and desires - I think if they can do a great job with PR and a solid product then they have a chance. I haven't had any contact with them regarding being a reseller - I only worked with Be Inc. and Gobe. If you met JLG today, what would you say to him? I would thank him for giving us BeOS, I would give him a firm handshake and tell him he did a great job with what he had to go up against. I would wish him luck and hope he may in the future give it another go. Much as I would a certain ex-carmaker I know. Well, Michael... You've certainly shed some light on your role in the BeOS Community. Thanks again for your time. It was a pleasure finally getting a chance to speak with you about BeOS more in depth. Any parting comments for our readers? I would like to thank you all for making use of my BeShare server for without the users I would have no need for the server! I try to do my part to give back to this great OS and userbase - thank you and God bless! Michael Paine runs TyCom Systems, which offers computer support and various BeOS related items. In addition, he maintains the largest BeShare server, beshare.tycomsystems.com, which is running on a 1.6M down x 384k up ASDL line, provided by AceDSL. Michael can be contacted via email at mpaine@acedsl.com....