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Sun Negotiating With Wal-Mart Over Java Desktop

An anonymous reader writes "According to an EWeek article, Sun is challenging Microsoft on a new front: the consumer market. Believing its Java Desktop System is "a more effective home and retail solution," the company is negotiating with major retailers Wal-Mart and Office Depot to include the Java desktop on consumer PCs and laptops."

18 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A discussion of the "Java Desktop"... by Frymaster · · Score: 5, Funny
    actually, it includes a very important java package:

    com.marketing

  2. Woohoo by pheared · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now every old, dirty, walking-around-in-WalMart-wearing-their-underwear- at-3AM-because-its-still-open, couple can enjoy Java.

    The masses thank you.

    (P.S.: Yes, I've seen that, and it is frightening(ly hilarious if you are one of my friends.))

    1. Re:Woohoo by Frymaster · · Score: 5, Funny
      Now every old, dirty, walking-around-in-WalMart-wearing-their-underwear- at-3AM-because-its-still-open, couple

      dude. that guy is sysadmin. didn't you see the pager?

    2. Re:Woohoo by LordoftheFrings · · Score: 3, Funny
      walking-around-in-WalMart-wearing-their-underwear- at-3AM
      Well, you never wear your underwear at 3AM? Oh, you meant ONLY their underwear? Nevermind...
  3. A new name might be in order. by evn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Being that there is so little java in java desktop anyway (as mentioned above), maybe they should rename it to six-pack-of-bud desktop, or Moonshine-computing environment to appeal to the walmart market.

    Java is so upper-class yuppy: Apple users would eat that up!
    disclaimer: posted from a powerbook at a down-town coffee shop

  4. Wal-Mart selling JDE by jesse.k · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean Sun will help port Deer Hunter to the JDE?

  5. Java Desktop by paul248 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, when can we expect to see Wal-Mart selling this new line of furniture with integrated coffee machines?

  6. Re:What IT manager is this by wowbagger · · Score: 4, Funny
    Jeez, where do they find these IT managers.


    SCO, perhaps? Maybe Microsoft?
  7. Re:Whatever... by SpaceRook · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll bet if they used Ray Charles instead of BB King, more people would have bought them.

  8. A rose by any other name... by Chordonblue · · Score: 4, Funny

    You know this 'Java Desktop' thing has little or nothing to do with Java. But the funny thing was the guy who was interviewed who said something like, 'Well I don't know why we'd use it. It uses Java, and Java crashes computers..." Hmmm.. Good reporting there. Why not ask a chimneysweep or a horsemaster next?

    --
    "...Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam..."
  9. Re:What IT manager is this by southpolesammy · · Score: 5, Funny
    An IT manager, who asked not to be named
    You mispelt troll.
    --
    Rule #1 -- Politics always trumps technology.
  10. It's like pig latin. by Thud457 · · Score: 2, Funny
    I may get modded down for this, but:

    "But that's precisely the point! Sun is trying to associate their new Linux/GNOME distribution with the Java brand"

    But, then, shouldn't they have followed standard GNOME protocol and renamed it GN AVA DESKTOP?!!!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  11. Nice friggin brand name. by popo · · Score: 4, Funny


    And I thought "OS/2" was the worst brand name for an operating system.

    "Java-Desktop"?

    I'll install that along with my "VB Document- Editor" and "C++ Grid-Based- Number-Calculator" software.

    Anyone want to play a game of "Run-Around-and-Shoot-Each-Other-in-a-Sci-Fi-Envir onment"?

    --
    ------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
  12. Re:How long till Sun realises... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Meet George Jetson.
    [...]
    His boy, MEMROY.

  13. Re:Java in the Java Desktop by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Java is a brilliant piece of technology that is really starting to come into its own.

    Yup, and always will be.

    "In the next version, we promise we'll fix all the library crap! And the performance issues! And ..."

    --
    Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
  14. Aint got no book lernin. by whittrash · · Score: 2, Funny

    WALMART CUSTOMER: Aint java whats them city folk drink in ther fancee coffee joints. Well I gots to get a JAVA computer. Its a heifer and two pigs cheaper than an Apple. I don't want that Micro-soft cause I herd bout identity theft on the 10:00 news, where the Russians bust in and steals yer numbers. I want my mo-chine to be REAL fancy though. I can buy a full inter-net computer for $299 at WAL-MART with a printer and TV screen and typewriter disk and I get 1000 free Owls(AOL). God bless America...Cheyanne, WHERES MY TV DINNER! Wheel of Fortune is on!

    (fade to a small polyester flag which flaps in the breeze, a screen door slams shut next to a coon dog, on a redwood deck, connected to a trailer as a camaro being worked on in the yard revs its engine, coughs and belches black smoke.)

    This to illustrate the point, its half about brand recognition to people who know very little and care even less and many will use the computer only for printing digital pictures, email and porn. It is not about usability (Microsoft anyone?), not about performance (microsoft again). The main problem will be a lack of computer games and tax software, but if it takes off, that will change soon. The real question is, will you want the white trash of America using Linux or Windows?

  15. Re:That's what I find odd by sjvn · · Score: 2, Funny

    >Is Sun actually thinking "Hmm, 'Java Desktop System', that's a name people can trust"?

    I think they're thinking, McNealy will have a cow if we call it Linux Desktop System.

    Steven

  16. Armada? by starsong · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hell, even my ol' Windows 98 compaq armada runs Java fine.

    Wow, I didn't even know Win98 could do clustering.