AST Computer has introduced its first high-performance PC featuring Be Inc.'s new BeOS operating system, and designed specifically to handle high-performance digital media applications.

The new Premium 2000Be offers a choice of single- or dual-processor architecture, direct pricing starting under $2,000, and a dual-boot pre-load with BeOS and Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operating systems.

Beginning at $1,912 for a complete system, the 2000Be contains up to two 550MHz Pentium IIIs, seven expansion slots, as much as 2GB of ECC memory and up to 108GB of disk storage via support for six hard drives.

The AST Premium 2000Be will be available in July directly from AST Computer at www.ast.com .