Linux for the desktop
Here is an interesting article for all those interested in the Linux / UNIX desktop debate.

This is a commentary article by Jonathan Schwartz (profile link), Executive Vice President, Software Group, Sun Microsystems.

Here is a quote:

First - we're not waiting for 2005 to migrate all of Sun to a non-Microsoft desktop. By the end of this calendar year - potentially by summer - we'll be there. What are we seeing? Dramatic reductions in outages due to viruses, dramatic cost savings, little/no retraining costs for Windows users making the transition, and no problem at all reusing old PC's and laptops to run our desktop, the Java Desktop System. We're ready for enterprise deployment.

Also have a look at a screenshot (click for full shot)


One of the key feature sis tha Java Desktop System includes the premium StarOffice 7 productivity suite at no additional cost. Micro$cum arn't going to do that!

Here is the promotional blurb from Sun:

With the Sun Java Desktop System, Sun has delivered the first viable Microsoft Windows alternative. The Java Desktop System is a more affordable, secure desktop that is designed to thrive in a Windows-centric world. It's also the only environment with fully integrated Java technology, making this "out-of-the-box" desktop ready to run thousands of Java technology-based applications with a consistent look and feel.

The Java Desktop System is a comprehensive, secure, highly-affordable enterprise desktop solution that consists of a fully integrated client environment based on open source components and industry standards, including a GNOME desktop environment, StarOffice Office Productivity Suite, Mozilla browser, Evolution mail and calendar, Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE platform) and a Linux operating system.

All information is available here.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, Solaris, Sun Java Desktop, all trademarks and logos that contain Sun, Solaris, or Java, and certain other trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.