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Sun Java Desktop System Release 2

Jahf writes "Sun is putting out Java Desktop System Release 2. Some overview information is in this article while more technical information about the new management solutions are in this one. Quickly: the desktop environment is essentially the same, though Sun has added support for GIMLET (allows one to change the current input language on a per-window basis), officially supported Japanese and Korean translations, and is including a Java-based online update client. The bigger changes are management items that are normally hidden from the end-user but valuable to the Admin. Configuration Manager allows admins to setup client preferences for remote desktops and 'protect' those settings to create policies. Sun Control Station (the last remaining Sun product from the Cobalt acquisition) can work as a network imaging server, can monitor remote desktops, and can work as a patch server (both by pushing patches out to many desktops and by serving as an online update server for clients who need to pull additional packages)."

23 of 196 comments (clear)

  1. Java for the desktop... by SpanishInquisition · · Score: 4, Funny

    because maybe your computer is too fast

    --
    Je t'aime Stéphanie
  2. Sun Control Station 2.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's not exactly the same as the old Sun Cobalt variety,
    for some reason they rewrote the whole thing in Java.

    And the new one doesn't come bundled with hardware.

  3. Re:Wooptie Dooo by Neil+Blender · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sun is has been going no where fast

    I'd say Sun is going no where slow. Just like their products.

  4. Re:Where's the innovation by Bricklets · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could they make it look any more like Windows

    They are probably trying to reduce the amount of effort (and training costs) needed to retrain users that are familar with Windows. Usability is all about having an interface that does what users expect. Right now, they expect it to act like Windows.

    --
    Little Bricklets
  5. Computers don't "run" Java by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    They "walk" it.

    I'm here all day, folks.

  6. Re:Where's the innovation by CaptainCheese · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could they make it look any more like Windows. This here is a linux OS that is trying to look as much like linux as possible.

    Woah, there. That doesn't even BEGIN to make sense. (unless that's some weird, round about way of saying it doesn't look like MS Windows)

    Incidentally, I don't think anyones got any business knocking the windows GUI. There are many things wrong with the Redmond family of operating systems but, to give them their due, they've put a hell of a lot of work into making the desktop work reasonably well.

    --
    -- .sigs are a waste of data...turn them off...
  7. Re:Desktops of SUN, Red Hat, and Novell by bug-eyed+monster · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I hope all of the above. Choice is good, and as long as they interoperate, I believe it would be fantastic to have several "leaders" each with its own look and feel catering to a different class of users.

  8. Attention to user experience is good sign by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am glad to see that Sun is stepping up the features long touted as superior on Windows machines, that is the ease of modifying user parameters based on some policy or other national/language based settings -- it sounds like this setup is geared towards that rising Asian marketshare, as well as towards those Wal-Mart customers. Lest anyone think selling PC's at Wal-Mart is dumb, just count the zero's on Wal-Mart's revenue stream... they aren't #1 on Fortune 500 for NOT selling things!

    --
    stuff |
  9. Recommended Server Requirements by DA-MAN · · Score: 4, Informative

    Recommended (Minimum) Configuration

    * 2 Ghz Intel Compatible processor or better
    * 1GB of RAM
    * 160 GB hard drive
    * 10/200 Base-T Ethernet network interface


    Wonder what a 200BaseT nic is... Can't say I've ever seen this before.

    --
    Can I get an eye poke?
    Dog House Forum
    1. Re:Recommended Server Requirements by bratgrrl · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Wonder what a 200BaseT nic is.."

      Token Ring revival! w00t!

      --

      ---

      SCO is weenies
      Gator is Spyware
      Microsoft is thugs

  10. Blinders! by imidazole2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lockdown of the user desktop: In the context of configuration management, lockdown plays a significant role, as it prevents users from changing their default environment and helps administrators provide and mandate simpler desktop environments, which in turn can help prevent users from being distracted from their core work. In the competition with other desktop systems, lockdown plays an important role.

    Sun's software now includes blinders! Why wont my opponet debate this issue? Is it because he's a horse... or because he has BLINDERS ON! No periphial vision! *snap* *snap* *snap*

    --

    -Imidazole2
  11. Although it's fun to joke about Java... by Meat+Blaster · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Its biggest perceived flaw (slow execution speed) is largely a thing of a past. Properly engineered Java applications run smoothly, especially when they take advantage of native display rendering speedups as Eclipse does.

    In an entire environment based on and tailored toward Java, such as Sun's Java Desktop System, the language really shines. Rapid setup and deployment benefits system administrators, while developer productivity is enhanced by the optimization of the develop, execute, debug and deploy cycle.

    This type of setup just makes sense when you're dealing with a network of disparate hardware and software. The more that can be made common and interoperable, the easier it is to get things done. And it looks like Sun Java Desktop System has only gotten more affordable and easy to use.

    1. Re:Although it's fun to joke about Java... by SQLz · · Score: 4, Funny

      Scott McNealy, is that you? How you doing buddy?

    2. Re:Although it's fun to joke about Java... by Jim_Maryland · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Its biggest perceived flaw (slow execution speed) is largely a thing of a past.

      Just to back you up, my group does some pretty extensive image and dataset processing using Java based code. While most of the images are a couple hundred megabytes in size, it's not unusual for a several gigabyte image to to be processed too. Processing time is definitely a concern of ours and we've found the more recent Java versions to perform quite nicely.

      As for the Java Desktop System, I think the bigest issues it faces are related to hardware support (device drivers) from the various vendors.

      For as much complaining people here seem to do against Sun, remember how some of the popular open source projects got large chunks of their code (Apache Jakartaand Open Office are two that come to mind). I know that Sun hasn't open sourced everything, but at least they follow open standards.

  12. Isn't this just plain ol' linux? by broothal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So what does the Sun Java Desktop gives me if I buy it? These are the key features:

    Desktop Features
    o A GNOME desktop environment
    o StarOffice Productivity Suite
    o Mozilla web browser
    o Evolution mail directory and calendar clients
    o Instant Messaging support for multiple services
    o Linux operating system
    o Java System Update Services
    o Globalization, Internationalization and Localization Support
    Developer Tools
    o Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE) v1.4.2_04, including the Java SDK
    o Sun Java Studio Standard 5 update 1 Technology Preview
    o NetBeans IDE version 3.6
    System Management Tools and Client Configuration Tools
    o The Java Desktop System Configuration Manager
    o Sun Control Station 2.1
    o The Remote Desktop Takeover

    With a few exceptions, such as the System management tools, most of these features can be found in a normal linux system. I'm obviously missing something here? (I hope - enlighten me please)

    1. Re:Isn't this just plain ol' linux? by Mr.+Darl+McBride · · Score: 4, Insightful
      With a few exceptions, such as the System management tools, most of these features can be found in a normal linux system. I'm obviously missing something here?
      A standardized configuration with very specific and well-documented apps. One of Linux's big problems is also its greatest benefit -- lots of options. That's great if you're tuning a system for your use, but not so great if you're trying to support it.

      What Sun does next will determine how well this will work. If they're just trying to offer a desktop which they can sell support for, then this won't go much of anywhere.

      If they focus on selling certification and support documentation and training, this could make the Linux desktop infinitely more digestible to the enterprise, who want to be able to hire cheap and interchangeable developers and support personnel.

    2. Re:Isn't this just plain ol' linux? by AKAImBatman · · Score: 4, Informative

      1. Sun bundles stuff that other distros can't. e.g. StarOffice (which has features that OpenOffice doesn't), Macromedia Flash, Java, RealPlayer, etc.

      2. $100 is the base price (actually $50 right now) that gets you one year of updates. You never have to pay another dime unless you want ANOTHER year of updates.

      3. Sun's plan is to bundle all of their desktop software into one package. As they add new value (e.g. MSAccess support for StarOffice is in the works), you get those upgrades free.

      4. Unlike many ad-hoc distros, JDS is founded upon the idea of being a consolidated desktop.

      I will say that at this point JDS is only slightly *different* from SuSE. SuSE may actually be the better pick. However, I do expect that JDS will become a lot more competitive in the future.

    3. Re:Isn't this just plain ol' linux? by turgid · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I'm obviously missing something here? (I hope - enlighten me please)

      Reliable and accountable support?

  13. Funny and right on... by hot_Karls_bad_cavern · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Parent is both funny and right on. i've run the Java Desktop on a 600MHz machine...i'll just be kind and say it's less than snappy. i've not gotten ballsy enough to load 'er up on my 2.8GHz at the house yet...maybe when i get it all backed up, but i spose it would be hella snappier and perhaps enjoyable!

  14. Re:Not impressed by JavaLord · · Score: 4, Informative

    When will the linux desktops going to "lead" in innovation instead of lagging, continually trying to replicated some outdated version of windows?

    Although you've been modded as a troll, you are right in large part it seems linux tries to emulate windows. It's not a bad thing, because it allows people to switch when they get too disgruntled with windows. However, the bigger payoff would be if someone developed a desktop enviornment that was BETTER than windows. Not just in preformance, but in look in feel

    and that is exactly what sun is trying to do with project looking glass.

    Check out some of the movies and screenshots of it if you haven't seen them yet (it's been posted on slashdot) they are pretty badass imo.

  15. Clarification, Java is a brand (for Sun anyway) by mysterious_mark · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As came up in the previous Java desktop discussion, there is some ambiguity as to the use of the word Java, Sun now considers Java to be a brand, just like GM has brands of Chevy and Oldsmobile, thus the Java desktop doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Java the programming language. Being a Java programmer myself, it may be hard to live the fact with our favorite language is now a pseudonymn for a corporate brand, but we need to call spade a spade. For Sun Java is a name they use to sell product and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a programming language. Mark Mark

  16. Re:Last gasp by dasmegabyte · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And yet, Led Zepplin still rocks. Harleys are still pretty cool. The fact that your dad's a goof doesn't change these.

    Same with the Java Desktop. Java is AWESOME. A Java Desktop is a Cool Thing. Whether it helps Sun or not is meaningless.

    --
    Hey freaks: now you're ju
  17. Re:YAWLD by zopu · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Well done! You have successfully figured out that this system is not designed with you in mind!

    In fact, I think you'll probably find yourself much happier with windows. You are running windows, aren't you? A little bird told me that it supports your scanner, TV card and your camera!

    However, for some of us Linux (or Solaris, etc) is a better option:

    Do I own your camera? no.
    Do I own your TV card? no.
    Do I have your digital camera? no.

    Do I have 200 bucks handy to buy a second copy of windows for my second pc? no.
    Do I really want to agree to licensing terms that allow MS to pay me 'friendly visits' every no and again? no.
    etc.