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Sun Gets Open Source Into NSW Government
lplatypus writes "ZDNet Australia reports that Sun Microsystems has "has cleared a place for its Java Enterprise System on the NSW government's software shelf, continuing its campaign to weaken Microsoft's monopoly over the desktop." The Age clarifies that Sun's offering includes open source components such as Linux, Gnome, Mozilla and Evolution. Another article is at Australian IT, or see Sun's press release."
One of the things I haven't been able to figure out (probably haven't looked hard) is if MadHatter is going to be avaiable for free download. I know Sun is trying to make a little money off of corporations (that 100/year/user thing), but what about the rest of us?
Hmm... this would seem to be a good thing for Open Source... except, how Open Source is Sun's Java Enterprise System? Admittedly, this is the first I've really looked into it.
However, the company has to overcome heavy market inertia favouring Microsoft's proprietary server and client software product sets, particularly its ubiquitous office productivity suite Microsoft Office.
Why does everybody always point the finger at Office? While it's a pain in the foot to deal with those .doc files if you don't use it (converters and built-in support aside), the problem (at least where I work -- would this not hold true in most places?) is that our _vendors_ for our company specific software (in our case, Insurance, but friends of mine who work in the medical or automotive fields would say the same thing) base their solutions around Windows workstations and Windows servers. I can't very well ditch Windows in my Enterprise environment without a comparable solution to do what we need (manage an Independent Insurance Agency) in Linux/Unix/Apple/whatever.
Does anybody realistically see that changing anytime soon?
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
On the contrary, I'm doing computer science in a university in NSW and our main UNIX servers (on SPARCs) run SunOS while some labs triple boot Win2k, Linux and Solaris. Since most of our code are to be compiled and checked on the SunOS servers and we use several Sun tools, there has been some interest by students to acquire Solaris under the free binary program.
Sun is very much alive in my uni.
However Madhatter is largely based on GPLed software. GPL is (despite our BSD loving friends' statements to the contrary) an assurance that pretty much all of Madhatter will be free and "the rest of us" therefore will be able to enjoy any contribution that Sun Makes to Gnome or mozilla.
And it of course goes without saying that we will be able to enjoy the advancements in java that will occur when Sun integrates it more with the Linux desktop. (including the usage of GTK in java's UI allowing java programs to work better with GTK programs and even slightly better with QT based programs.
When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
Sun has to get this sort of support, but from larger governments and organizations, if the stock market is to ever look upon Sun's stock(SUNW) as positive and solid ever again. Once upon a time, many may forget, but there was indeed a time when Sun was well over 60 dollars a share, and the stock market was beaming with joy at the little server company that could. Then, the econonomic bubble exploded, (or imploded, you could say), and Sun started to decline in spite of small innovations, their competitors became too heavy. Sun's new offerings, specifically the Java Virtual Desktop System, are very good looking, and I am a Sun investor at 4.07(now at 3.55), and I hope others may buy into Sun's [lucrative] price.
Err, you do realize that the "Java Desktop" is just what Sun is calling their desktop environment (consisting of Gnome, Evolution, and the like) which really has very little to do with Java at all?
Sun is using open source to fill in big gaps in their software offerings, but what they sell also has a significant proprietary component. In particular, a lot of the Java-related products are proprietary.
On balance, this is probably still good for open source and open systems. But we have to be wary of Sun: they are not an open source company, and many of their efforts are not in the best interest of the open source community.
To sum up: YOUR FULL OF SHIT
It's 'you're.' That's 'you're.' As in 'you are.' 'You are.' That is, if I wanted to say 'You are a fucking moron,' I might shorten that to: 'You're a fucking moron.' You fucking moron.
Actually, I believe the esteemed gentleman was using the noun form of the verb "to full," meaning "To make (a garment) full, as by pleating or gathering." Therefore "a full" refers to an attempt to full a garment. Clearly, a full of shit would then be the fulling of a garment using shit; the shit would likely be sewn into the garment between multiple layers of cloth.
One may wish to consider a synthetic fabric for such work, as natural fibers tend to be too porous for containing shit in polite company. The use of a sewing machine will allow you to form a tighter seal. In addition, drying the shit thoroughly before insertion into the garment is adviseable. The generous application of antibacterial chemicals and preservatives will prevent decomposition of the shit and maintain its consistency-you don't want your dress to start sagging halfway through the party because your shit is rotten.
In conclusion, the poster who wrote "YOUR FULL OF SHIT" is guilty only of using a sentence fragment and excessive capitalization. Perhaps he is operating under the assumption that fulling a garment with shit is a disgraceful procedure. He might then attempt to insult with the mere implication that an attempt to full with shit happened, just as one might use the sentence fragment "YOUR MOM" as an insult.
If that is the case, he is clearly behind the times. Natural Organically Enhanced Fabrics are the big thing next season! All the environmentally correct fashion shows currently feature sylish designer Organic Wear such as shit-fulled ball gowns. Remember, ladies, nature knows best-you only need to know how to sew to keep nature from calling at the wrong time!