Koki, a well known (and one of the hard working) member of JPBE.net shot me a very interesting e-mail today.

JPBE has launched a Hardware Compatability Database, in Japanese and for Japanese users. It's most likely the first hardware database with full"compatibility with Zeta in its various flavors (RC1, RC1 + SP1, R1, whenever it becomes available).".

Click on Read More for more information. Koki went on to say:

The database was designed to accept entries from anyone (no registration required), and we hope that the Japanese community will help grow the database for the benefit of everyone (there is already more than 100 entries in it).

The database also has a comments feature that allows multiple comments for the same entry, so that people can share their experiences with the same device and hopefully provide solutions to those that are having problems with a particular piece of hardware.

I should also mention that there is a mobile version in the works, for those who want to query the database through their cell phones while they are at the store. [Ed. Note: This is _very_ useful].

I want to thank all the members of the JPBE.net hardware database team, and particularly the team leader momoziro, who did the bulk of the work. I am proud of working with these guys!

Now, this raised an interesting question, which I'm sure many of you already though of as well. What about Frizbe? Well, I asked Koki about it and he, very kindly (as always) replied:

We certainly talked about piggy-backing onto Frizbe.net, but after some debate we decided to go our way for several reasons.

First, we wanted the ability to allow system version identification. There is now too many flavors of BeOS out there (PE, R5, DANO, Max, Zeta RC1, etc.), and we thought it was important that those who use the database know which version of BeOS the hardware was being used on. The Frizbe.net database does not have that ability.

(...)

But perhaps the main reason was that we wanted full control of the project for flexibility reasons; Japanese has some uniqueness that requires a different interface, plus concepts of usability are not necessarily the same as in the west, and we felt that piggy-backing would limit us in too many respects. It is certainly not our purpose to reinvent the wheel, and I am all for building bridges between east and west, but only when it makes sense and it is for the benefit of the Japanese community that we are trying to serve.

Once again, Koki and JPBE prove themselves as valuable members of the community, working forward and not trying to hinder it.

He mentions and quite correctly (I know I've stressed it out more than once), "building bridges between east and west", and I'd like to throw that one out there for your scrutiny. What would you think of an english front-end to this Database? Leave a comment to let us know if you're interested, or not.