Sun's JAVA Desktop Strategy
SUN Microsystems has started the year with remarkable news and a clear objective of where they want to go with Linux desktop in the coming few years, to the excitement of the Linux public. For those of you that are thinking, SUN? Yes, SUN, that is the company that brought you JAVA. The Sun desktop initiative is going to draw the battle line with Microsoft in the fight to control the desktop. SUN hopes to give the users a clear alternative to the Microsoft Windows and Office applications.
What is on the Menu?
The Sun desktop initiative is based on JAVA running on a Linux system. Without Java the desktop is just like other Linux distros. What makes the Java desktop exciting is not just Linux but the package that Sun has put together.
According to Scott McNealy (CEO SUN) the ideal is to use Java to provide a strong corporate solution which will be an alternative to Microsoft Windows. What SUN has done to make this happen, is to bring together the combination of Software and hardware and a good technical support.
On the software side, Java will be running on Linux which will be accompanied with other software for easy configuration and maintenance.
Sun has outlined the following as the objective of the Java Desktop:
· Desktop applications are tightly integrated allowing for drag and drop and copy/paste of text, graphics and other elements between applications.
· Universal printer selection of available printers on network, including printers available on Windows networks.
· Single point of entry for directory and file management and networked computers.
· Intuitive, easy to use, single install mechanism which ensures users can quickly get productive.
· Easy to learn and use, especially for traditional MS Windows users.
· Featuring:
· Familiar desktop themes for file management and desktop configuration
· Standard keyboard short cut conventions
· Direct access to files and servers using the "Documents"and "Network Places" directories
· Familiar access to networked computers from single "Network Places" directory
In addition the SUN Java desktop will be provided to companies with a very clear licensing model. For a fee of $100 per desktop or $50 per user per year SUN will provide you with an OS and Office application productivity tools and a 60 days technical support, with one year free upgrade and patches. A sales promotion is going on that will run through June 2004 that will start with a price of $50 per desktop and $25 per user. The advantage of this licensing method is that you can make a head count and know how much you will be given away that year for software which makes life easier.
For the enterprise, SUN can deliver a combination of Server OS and Desktop applications in a box by providing you with basically all what you need like, directory server, proxy server, messaging server and message queue server for a low price of $100 per employee without separately purchasing these servers or paying for a client connection license like Microsoft has it at this time.
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