The Sounds Icon
Location in the BeOS:
/beos/preferences/Sounds

While it's not as verbose as R2-D2, it's easy to set up BeOS to make some sounds for basic events.

Pop open the Sounds preferences and you'll see you can select custom sounds for "Beep" "New E-mail" and "Startup". You can also test out sounds with the "Play" button, so you don't have to keep sending e-mail to yourself to see which sound you like best.

"Beep" is versatile, much like the word "hey". When BeOS beeps it can be saying "Hey, look at me, I just did something interesting" or "Hey, you can't do that" or "Hey, I'm finished with a job" depending on the situation and/or application.

"New E-mail" lets you know you have new spam to delete (or possibly a message you actually want to read). This only works if you're using BeMail. If you're using some third party e-mail client, you'll have to use their configuration for e-mail sound notification.

"Startup" plays a sound as BeOS graces your computer with its presence. Pick something loud to inform your co-workers that you are once again proudly booting BeOS.

Where do the sounds come from? Of course you can record your own or find some sounds on the Net. But a bunch of sweet sounds are also included on your BeOS R4.5 CD (and on your hard drive if you installed the "optional" items). Check out /optional/sound/Startup Sounds and /optional/sound/System Beeps.

What sounds are on my computer? I prefer the classic BeBeep, the soothing 12StrStart and the distinctive yet subtle KissChimeAlert to let me know e-mail has arrived.