Sun to unveil software to replace Windows

[rockos]

SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- In a move aimed squarely at Microsoft Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc. on Tuesday will unveil a suite of software for businesses that want to dump -- or just can't afford -- the Windows operating system on their companies' desktop computers.
The Sun Java Desktop system, which was formerly code-named Mad Hatter, runs on the open-source Linux operating system and includes a variety of programs that replace Microsoft's Internet browser, productivity suite and other parts of the Windows package.
Sun officials say its system will cost as little as $50 per user per year and can be installed on any computer that can run Microsoft's Office 2000. The software also is designed to interoperate with Windows-based programs such as Exchange and Microsoft Office.
"We're talking about a radical savings -- more than 75 percent over just the comparable upgrade cost for Microsoft," said Larry Singer, Sun's senior vice president of global market strategies.
Seeking sales
Sun, a leading maker of high-end, Unix-based servers, has been struggling since the dot-com collapse to bolster sales as systems based on inexpensive x86 microprocessors and the Linux operating system become more powerful and more viable.
The company has since embraced both x86 chips and Linux in an effort to become a leader in low-cost computing. The move toward desktops is another facet of that transformation.
But Tuesday's announcement also echoes a theme heard throughout Sun's nearly 20-year history: A desire to position itself as an alternative to Microsoft in desktop computing.
Antitrust case pending
In the late 1980s, Sun's 386i PC project flopped as the young company was then ill-prepared for the market. More recently, attempts to get support for its universal programming language Java in desktops have been hindered by Microsoft.
In fact, Sun's $1 billion antitrust case over that matter is still pending in a Maryland federal court.
Sun's latest attempt tries to leverage its Java brand, which is popular on a wide range of computing platforms from servers to cell phones but has contributed little directly to the company's bottom line.
Less worms and viruses?
Singer said because of Java's openness and integration with the new Sun desktop software, developers will have access to more components of the underlying software than they do with Microsoft's proprietary offerings.
Singer said there's another key difference between Sun Java Desktop and Microsoft Windows-based systems.
"Guess what? It wouldn't have blown up ... with the worms and the viruses" of recent weeks, he said.
Sun also planned to announce a major upgrade to its StarOffice productivity suite. Singer said it would work better than previous versions with Microsoft's competing Office suite.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/biztech....ap/index.html


Will you use it?

[HellSavior]

Java fucking kicks ass, it's my language of choice..

And yes I would, if it weren't on a per-yearly basis and the price was a one time shot!

[Stevo]

One question, will Doom]I[ play on it???

[lowlight]

I'll buy whatever OS is the best, and is most widely supported by the hardware and software I use.

In other words: Windows.

[Brucey]

"Sun officials say its system will cost as little as $50 per user per year"
I still have a couple Windows 3.1 machines around, and it was 50$ for one time :P ( I think)
meh, people bash windows a lot, but they never switch to anything better, because nothing else is as supported and widely used as good ol windows

[mfox]

i agree with what LL says. question is now LL, what would your opinion be if say this new Sun OS starts to become very widely supported? not necessarily AS widely as windows, cuz that'll take years, but still very supported
then what woul dyour answer be

[rednek426]

Originally Posted by mfox

i agree with what LL says. question is now LL, what would your opinion be if say this new Sun OS starts to become very widely supported? not necessarily AS widely as windows, cuz that'll take years, but still very supported
then what woul dyour answer be

i go with lowlight, but if that happened, then i think i would go dual boot

[Sojo]

i go with whatever runs all my games

[Le Fuzz]

i wonder if this 75 percent in savings will drive the prices down for windows....hmm....that's a thought.

[bass_machine]

I agree with LL and Sojo on this one. M$...