Sun releases Solaris-based desktop software

Sun Microsystems has quietly released a version of its Java Desktop System software based on Solaris, a new step in the company's plan to try to transfer some of Linux's glory to its own operating system.

The Java Desktop System (JDS) consists of an operating system and higher-level software such as the GNOME user interface, the Mozilla Web browser, the StarOffice competitor to Microsoft Office, RealNetworks' media player--and of course Sun's Java software foundation. When JDS was introduced a year ago, it was based only on Novell's SuSE Linux.

Sun released JDS version 2, based on Solaris 9, last week. According to Sun's plans, version 3 is due by the end of the year, a version Sun says will be easier to use.

Under a promotional pricing plan that runs through December, the software can be downloaded for $50 per computer per year.

Linux sellers have rallied around the open-source operating system for servers for years, but more recently have used it in direct attacks against Microsoft's stronghold on desktop PCs.

Sun has begun touting its own Solaris version of the Unix operating system, chiefly by resurrecting and now heavily promoting a version that runs on computers with x86 chips such as Intel's Pentium. Sun is aiming Solaris chiefly at Red Hat Linux and plans to make the software an open-source product by the end of the year.

[zaznet]

resurrecting the living?

The article reports "chiefly by resurrecting and now heavily promoting a version". Solaris for X86 was announced to have ended support, that was followed by a major backlash by it's user community and many Sun customers. They quickly reversed the decision and it was never really dead, just planned to be dead.

What is important is that Sun has realised the importance of this version of Solaris for their future and is working to promote it and develop it much more. It went from "we are ending support for Solaris on X86" to a new focus for the company.

it belongs to us

ohhh another desktop linux. okay i'm not really into the linux/unix world. i know how to use it because i do a lot of server scripting. i don't really care either way what is on my box as long as i can run the programs i wish to run.

here's the thing though human knowdlege belongs to us all of us from our parents who still have trouble getting the new dvd player you bought them so they can watch the home dv movies of your new baby to someone like me who deals with keeping people "safe" from hackers and crackers.

i know i know the copyright laws and blah blah blah; well no more blah blah blah. it is ours so some company makes money off the people wahoooo that is how things work in this day and time. you are either on and making money or off and doing open source. i like money and i like open source, but some company thinking for us is not cool.

i mean bill gates a big money man now, he didn't even make DOS, but he knew how to market. and apple computer the mac the icons and mouse they didn't come up with that some nerds at xerox did, do they get the respect they should hell no. that is my point it was someone elses human knowdlege that made those and then another's knowdlege who expanded and then another and another and another. that is how i can sit here with a 64bit pc and a high speed Internet connection and ten years ago i was happy to have four MB of ram and 19.2 dialup.

anyway it is ours all of ours

[gmonro]

Did you read it?

>ohhh another desktop linux
NO - It's based on SOLARIS. Not Linux.

[shreeg]

This was long overdue

Having a version of JDS that was based on Solaris made sense to a company that saw unexpected success selling the linux version. This is especially so when solaris has been around for a considerable length of time and is a mature OS. Sun's desktop strategy seems to have paid off with the good reviews JDS has been getting leaving aside the questions on where is the java in JDS. I have only seen good reviews for the JDS and as a concept it is becoming more clear that regardless of underlying OS(linux or solaris), one can expect to have a uniform graphic look and feel while being able to run all apps. With solaris as a base, this could get even better.

I see this as a low cost alternative to enterprises who will get the benefit of a strong and qualiatative OS. I believe linux apps can run on solaris in a forthcoming version. Hopefully the linux version will still be available to provide choice.

Interesting times.

[Ipod Apple]

unexpected success

http://www.analogstereo.com/mercedes_e_class_owners_manual.htm