Comments on: Sun to upgrade Linux desktop software

The second version of Java Desktop System will debut on Tuesday with extra features to lure developers. It's the latest part of Sun's effort to offset its server sales slump.

Star Office was opensource

This article is misleading in that it suggests that the almighty and opensource friendly SUN, through the goodness of its heart, gave Star Office freely to opensource. From how I remember it Star Office was purchased by SUN and was opensource before they purchased it. When they purchased it OpenOffice became the free version so that they would not be breaking any copyright issues to do with Open Source software. If I am wrong sorry but this is how I remember it.

[duncangibb]

You mis-remember, I think.

This time I think c-Net do actually have their facts straight.

As I remember it, StarDivision sold StarOffice as a wholely-proprietory product. When Sun bought them they started giving it away for free (beer).

Later they split out the bits they couldn't make Open Source (Abadas-DB belongs to Software AG, some of the fonts/clipart have copyright issues) to make a paid-for with-support StarOffice product and an Open Source core (OpenOffice.org).

This seems to be working as a strategy: both products have got rapidly better because the core is Open Source, and StarOffice has more credibility with business because it's no longer a suspiciously-free lunch - it's a major-vendor product when you pay money and get something in return.

[firing]

JDS for individual use

I think that Sun could speed up the acceptance of its JDS if it were to make it available at a very modest price for individual home users. This could build up some word of mouth excitement on the subject. It would also be useful in debugging the system and in getting a realistic return of users opinions as to ease of use.