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Sun Says Hardware Will Be Free
ron_ivi writes "Reuters reports that Sun's President and COO thinks hardware will be free and that people will pay for software subscriptions instead. Reuters quotes Schwartz: 'In our world, you will subscribe to the software and the hardware is free.' 'Directionally, our expectation is that in fiscal 2005 you're going to see a rapid departure from selling hardware, software and services apart.' 'Bill Gates and I agree that within four to five years hardware will be free.' We've recently read here on /. how Gates thinks hardware will be free."
Send me all the free hardware you want!
As long as they're giving hardware away, I'll take a Cisco CRS-1 router and a Beowulf cluster of GeForce 6800s.
I'll expect to take delivery of this equipment right after my Triphibian Atomicar rolls off the transporter from Swift Enterprises.
Seriously... a couple of years ago, Sun was telling us we'd all be running on glorified VT100 terminals. At what point do these clowns lose all credibility?
He's welcome to send me all the free hardware he pleases.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
where can i get it for free? I want a 15k multi-domain system :-)
Damia
I think cars will be free too.
We will just pay for gas and service.
I think Sun stock will be "free" too, if you know what I mean.
With free hardware, and open source software, I wont have to *IMAGINE* a beowulf cluster, I'll be able to have one!!!
Now onto my plans for world domination!
Back it up. Just a little more... A little more... Perfect!
Now, Honey, don't you think that E15K makes a great replacement for that china cabinet we used to have? And all I had to do was purchase a software license for StarOffice!
Karma: Marginal (mostly due to the border around the website)
MS says hardware will be free, IBM says software will be free. I hope they're both right!
Tell me where to take my moving truck in this twisted reality and I'll prove both companies right all day long.
We've already got the (mostly) free software part, let them give us the free hardware and we'll be all set. ;)
I'll take their free hardware and run my free software on it.
Step 1: Sun gives out hardware for free with Microsoft and Sun proprietary software
Step 2: Large numbers of businesses, who would pay for software anyway, get new free great DRM hardware.
Step 3: These same large businesses now throw out all of their old, non-DRM, non-Compatible hardware.
Step 4: Geeks like us go dumpster diving in a sea of free hardware.
Step 5: Install OSS on free hardware.
Step 6: ?
Step 7: Profit!!!!!
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
Actually it is probably part of Sun's new exit strategy (err I mean market plan):
1. Release free hardware with software subscription.
2. People put Linux on it.
3. File bankruptcy!
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
At least you will be able to get it for next to free on the auction block after Sun goes bankrupt. :)
The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you. - Tom Bradley
Intel announces software, not hardware will be free.
Opus: the Swiss army knife of audio codec
(Reuters)
A leading bicycle manufacturer announced today that, in the future, bicycles will be free but people will have to pay for the oxygen they'd breathe while biking.
Advertisement:
[Kids, steal money from your parents and buy Nike brand oxygen. Only Nike oxygen delivers the charge you need to push the limit.]
This announcement follows a call by several right-wing thinktanks for a transition from a manufacture-based to a service-based economy.
A number of South American and African nations, who have finally developed a manufacturing sector of their own in spite of IMF loans going primarily to resource extraction are not expected to follow the advice in the near future.
Is this a sigs-optional kind of place? 'Cause I am totally down with that if you know what I mean.
"You can't afford $1 a day?" he said.
"No," she said, "I can't afford $365 per year."
So much for his commission on a $1,300 vacuum.
I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
Billy-boy can give me one of those dual-core Longhorn-capable machines for free, and Sun can give me a nifty SPARC-powered machine for free.
Then I'll install Linux on them, and forgo the software rental fees.
steve
Oh, you're not stuck, you're just unable to let go of the onion rings.
And at the end of your lifetime, you will still own nothing.
Which is not necessarily a deal-breaker, seeing as how I'll be dead and all.
Dahlmann tightly grips the knife, which he may have no idea how to use, and steps out into the plain.