Sun also has been pushing a version of its Java software as an alternative to the Windows operating system for personal computers.
I'm certain the author in the Washington Post article is refering to "Java Desktop System" which is the name of a Linux distribution.
The earlier comment the author makes: Linux-based systems, marketed by IBM and others, have made strong inroads in the corporate-systems market. So far, Sun has been the primary victim, but Linux has provided more competition for Microsoft than has any software in years.
Leads me to believe that he doesn't realize Sun are also involved in Linux as an OS (not just providing applications such as the StarOffice suite).
The problem with the "Tux" is it's universal to Linux. You need to start somewhere. Sort of like saying BSD.
There is only one Microsoft, but there are many players in the Linux game. Which do you follow?
I think Linux (I have moved to FreeBSD) needs a group to really take the lead, something like the consortium Suse and others tried to form, but Redhat wasn't in it. Obviously this won't happen any time soon. Infact I see the problem getting worse (which is why I switched to FreeBSD).
At the end of the day, it's all about available applications and how easy they are to use for the employees of the people who make the big decisions. I have seen rediculous amounts spent on IT with a good chunk going to Microsoft, and I don't see thinks changing overnight in companies that have been using MS products for the last 10 years. Certainly a Linux server or two might pop up, but it's been my experience the employees whine to the middle managers who whine to the big guns and it's back to MS on the desktop (even Apple was disliked). Sure I have no problems with any windows manager, and neither do most people who haunt slashdot, but the average joe/jane likes to the same desktop at work and at home.
The worst/weirdest (some would find funny, but you had to be there) incident I ever had was a woman who went ballistic, I mean freaked out big time when I minimized Word to look at something. She literally started screaming "what did you do", and "bring it back, bring it back" with a waiting room full of people (I'm self conscious). Well MSWord was in her Start-up folder in Win3.1 and she just turned the computer of at the power when she was done which was causing the problems. I couldn't imagine a person like her changing to Open Office, besides she's probably still using Win3.1 if the hardware hasn't died.
actual TV is 100% worthless and getting worse every day
Doesn't the Sony console NEED a TV, and don't you NEED a TV to watch the recorded material?
Wouldn't it be more appropiate to say the TV's "tuner" is becoming worthless and the TV is becoming a giant low-resolution cheap monitor, with a low frame rate but less motion blur than a LCD screen? (just being a pedantic dik)
I run FreeBSD on an x86 SMP box and prefer it to Linux (I have Debian on the box to play with 2.6 kernel), I'm certain FreeBSD supports multiple processors on Sparc hardware.
So how is that relavent to existing Solaris users?
The point is "It's available to Solaris users"!
It doesn't matter whether VMWare, User-Mode Linux, SGI, HP, Digital or whoever came up with this. The point is it's available in SOLARIS NOW! (well soon)
I couldn't agree with you more... but... you can lock down Win2k and WinXP (but not from MSBlaster hehe).
The problem with a really wide deployment (1000+ computers) for Linux is that you usually need to source hardware independantly of the software. Things are changing with IBM, HP and Dell (I believe) providing Linux personal computers, but configuring these systems on a wide scale is not that easy.
Thankfully some tools are being created now, but we needed them tested yesterday. It will take a while for "managers" to warm to Linux. Essentially they need to pass the blame. If they can't do this then they will not approve the technology and neither would I.
As for the interface, well my experience has been with users who don't know what that is. Some secretaries have their wordprocessor automatically open and that's all they ever see. I once minimised MS Word and left it that way and the worker literally FREAKED. She has been just using MS Word for 2 years... THAT'S IT!
What I love about X windows, is the the user (me and you) provide the server, so we can have X running on any system for remote control. You can therefore control any Linux box from anywhere. The thing is... this can also be done on a Mac, with the software installed and ready to go the moment you purchase a box. Furthermore Linux is and other GNU kernels are quite fragmented in their directory structure (which really p!sses me off) while MacOSX is consistent. Whatever the outcome, it's preferable to a constently crashing system!
Macs can be used as reliable terminals, with some local applications like MS Office. MS Outlook is also fully supported on the Mac. I mention these, because they ARE USED, not some fantasy about how some GNU app should be used.
Macs have very good support from Apple (well they don't have anything else to support, do they).
I have to agree about the Mac ver. 7, but ver. 8.51 and upward was a lot more stable and easier to interface with PC's.
One thing you don't mention is the hardware and the amount of memory in the machines. Pushed Macs hard on inadequate hardware with low memory will always be a problem in the Mac world, since these IT departments keep them forever.
It's my experience that Mac's do not need to be upgraded in the workplace unless some new application requires it.
My experience has been to use Macs for MS Office and as multiple terminals. There was an MS Outlook server on x86 hardware and we even had WinNT through a Terminal Server right there on the Mac.
If someone need to have more than the 5 terminals and 3 windows open, all that was need was more memory. They would occasionally crash, but no work was ever lost. The computers were never hacked and any problems could be fixed remotely. If there was a major upgrade to an application and there were problems, Apple had technicians on standby 24/7.
Virtually everywhere I've worked has avoided Apples like the plague except one ISP which still uses Apple Macs. The employees also get Compaq boxes (now HP) but these can be switched off if the person has a good memory of the inner workings MS Windows.
The Apples are remotely checked (Timbuktu) by a very small support staff. The x86 systems can be reformated and the OS re-installed by putting in a floppy and CD as it is not used for work. Note: they are not using MacOSX. In the time I was there, no virii, trojans, worms, etc.
OS/2 3.0 was going to be released as a collaboration between IBM and MS. MS broke away and brought out WinNT 3.1 using the code. IBM brought out OS/2 Warp much later.
So what happened? Well it's the MS touch. Midas' touch turned everything to gold, MS's touch turns everything to sh..
Qnx, MacOS, Netware, AIX and Solaris won't crash providing your not running the software as Root, and even if you are in most case things should be fine!
Corsair ECC memory USING the error checking.Tyan motherboard powered by an Antec 430W true power. WD HD with 3 year warrany (they are very good) etc.
Every driver I use is MS certified I have tweaked Win 2000 heavily, but applications can and do something which slows down my computer. I've never had a blue screen, but many times I've had to reboot to get things back to "normal".
Unfortunately some of the applications I use are not available for MacOS or Linux so I'm stuck for the time being.
What I will be doing however, depending on how good the G5 Macs really are, is moving as many applications to MacOS X to minimise my exposure to MS and all it's products.
Slashdot Mirror
Sun also has been pushing a version of its Java software as an alternative to the Windows operating system for personal computers.
I'm certain the author in the Washington Post article is refering to "Java Desktop System" which is the name of a Linux distribution.
The earlier comment the author makes:
Linux-based systems, marketed by IBM and others, have made strong inroads in the corporate-systems market. So far, Sun has been the primary victim, but Linux has provided more competition for Microsoft than has any software in years.
Leads me to believe that he doesn't realize Sun are also involved in Linux as an OS (not just providing applications such as the StarOffice suite).
The problem with the "Tux" is it's universal to Linux. You need to start somewhere. Sort of like saying BSD.
There is only one Microsoft, but there are many players in the Linux game. Which do you follow?
I think Linux (I have moved to FreeBSD) needs a group to really take the lead, something like the consortium Suse and others tried to form, but Redhat wasn't in it. Obviously this won't happen any time soon. Infact I see the problem getting worse (which is why I switched to FreeBSD).
At the end of the day, it's all about available applications and how easy they are to use for the employees of the people who make the big decisions. I have seen rediculous amounts spent on IT with a good chunk going to Microsoft, and I don't see thinks changing overnight in companies that have been using MS products for the last 10 years. Certainly a Linux server or two might pop up, but it's been my experience the employees whine to the middle managers who whine to the big guns and it's back to MS on the desktop (even Apple was disliked). Sure I have no problems with any windows manager, and neither do most people who haunt slashdot, but the average joe/jane likes to the same desktop at work and at home.
The worst/weirdest (some would find funny, but you had to be there) incident I ever had was a woman who went ballistic, I mean freaked out big time when I minimized Word to look at something. She literally started screaming "what did you do", and "bring it back, bring it back" with a waiting room full of people (I'm self conscious). Well MSWord was in her Start-up folder in Win3.1 and she just turned the computer of at the power when she was done which was causing the problems. I couldn't imagine a person like her changing to Open Office, besides she's probably still using Win3.1 if the hardware hasn't died.
actual TV is 100% worthless and getting worse every day
Doesn't the Sony console NEED a TV, and don't you NEED a TV to watch the recorded material?
Wouldn't it be more appropiate to say the TV's "tuner" is becoming worthless and the TV is becoming a giant low-resolution cheap monitor, with a low frame rate but less motion blur than a LCD screen? (just being a pedantic dik)
I run FreeBSD on an x86 SMP box and prefer it to Linux (I have Debian on the box to play with 2.6 kernel), I'm certain FreeBSD supports multiple processors on Sparc hardware.
Have you tried FreeBSD? Just curious.
Yes, FreeBSD forever, till the boss says, the budget is half a million for the next year, then it's "Good morning Sunshine!"
So how is that relavent to existing Solaris users?
The point is "It's available to Solaris users"!
It doesn't matter whether VMWare, User-Mode Linux, SGI, HP, Digital or whoever came up with this. The point is it's available in SOLARIS NOW! (well soon)
This news is seriously a real yawner Obviously you don't manage any Sun servers, but if you did ...
http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net/
I couldn't agree with you more ... but ... you can lock down Win2k and WinXP (but not from MSBlaster hehe).
... THAT'S IT!
... this can also be done on a Mac, with the software installed and ready to go the moment you purchase a box. Furthermore Linux is and other GNU kernels are quite fragmented in their directory structure (which really p!sses me off) while MacOSX is consistent. Whatever the outcome, it's preferable to a constently crashing system!
The problem with a really wide deployment (1000+ computers) for Linux is that you usually need to source hardware independantly of the software. Things are changing with IBM, HP and Dell (I believe) providing Linux personal computers, but configuring these systems on a wide scale is not that easy.
Thankfully some tools are being created now, but we needed them tested yesterday. It will take a while for "managers" to warm to Linux. Essentially they need to pass the blame. If they can't do this then they will not approve the technology and neither would I.
As for the interface, well my experience has been with users who don't know what that is. Some secretaries have their wordprocessor automatically open and that's all they ever see. I once minimised MS Word and left it that way and the worker literally FREAKED. She has been just using MS Word for 2 years
What I love about X windows, is the the user (me and you) provide the server, so we can have X running on any system for remote control. You can therefore control any Linux box from anywhere. The thing is
When you only need to interface with terminals and an Office app, but there are a lot of end users, even the old Macs had their good points.
And as for using MS software, Macs can use a Terminal Client aswell. Why increase the amount of hardware and MS software if you don't have to?
If your office is Mac only ... then why buy printers that are not compatible. If you introduce PC's then it's not Mac only.
If you were truly Mac only, then these would not be issues.
Trust me ... when you have 10,000 (ten thousand) Macs to upgrade ... you wait till you have to.
How is what I've said stupid. Please use a 'nick' aswell.
[Who has that many Macs, a major telephone/ISP carrier]
Let it rest in peace.
MacTCP/IP works marvelously!
As for the Linux guys, heh, they love Linux and take care of their boxes
... then you'll think twice about Linux.
So why do you need an IT support department?
Get 1000 users without a clue
People still use AppleTalk?
... but ...
It rocked in 1987
Macs can be used as reliable terminals, with some local applications like MS Office. MS Outlook is also fully supported on the Mac. I mention these, because they ARE USED, not some fantasy about how some GNU app should be used.
Macs have very good support from Apple (well they don't have anything else to support, do they).
With Macs, less PEOPLE are needed and the money saved can go into the more expensive Apple hardware.
Macs (when set up correctly) can kill an IT department, especially the leaders, as less high end decision making is required.
I have to agree about the Mac ver. 7, but ver. 8.51 and upward was a lot more stable and easier to interface with PC's.
One thing you don't mention is the hardware and the amount of memory in the machines. Pushed Macs hard on inadequate hardware with low memory will always be a problem in the Mac world, since these IT departments keep them forever.
Why do people who have never tried a Mac make statements like this?
... it's not just the CPU your getting.
If you had just one Mac, even second hand, then maybe you'd have a clue.
The price for a Mac includes the case, power supply, HD, video AND THE CPU
Seriously, how can you make comments about something you have no idea about?
Who sells their Mac when it's only one year old?
It's my experience that Mac's do not need to be upgraded in the workplace unless some new application requires it.
My experience has been to use Macs for MS Office and as multiple terminals. There was an MS Outlook server on x86 hardware and we even had WinNT through a Terminal Server right there on the Mac.
If someone need to have more than the 5 terminals and 3 windows open, all that was need was more memory. They would occasionally crash, but no work was ever lost. The computers were never hacked and any problems could be fixed remotely. If there was a major upgrade to an application and there were problems, Apple had technicians on standby 24/7.
Virtually everywhere I've worked has avoided Apples like the plague except one ISP which still uses Apple Macs. The employees also get Compaq boxes (now HP) but these can be switched off if the person has a good memory of the inner workings MS Windows.
The Apples are remotely checked (Timbuktu) by a very small support staff. The x86 systems can be reformated and the OS re-installed by putting in a floppy and CD as it is not used for work. Note: they are not using MacOSX. In the time I was there, no virii, trojans, worms, etc.
OS/2 3.0 was going to be released as a collaboration between IBM and MS. MS broke away and brought out WinNT 3.1 using the code. IBM brought out OS/2 Warp much later.
So what happened? Well it's the MS touch. Midas' touch turned everything to gold, MS's touch turns everything to sh..
Qnx, MacOS, Netware, AIX and Solaris won't crash providing your not running the software as Root, and even if you are in most case things should be fine!
I have a dual processor workstation with the lot.
Corsair ECC memory USING the error checking.Tyan motherboard powered by an Antec 430W true power. WD HD with 3 year warrany (they are very good) etc.
Every driver I use is MS certified I have tweaked Win 2000 heavily, but applications can and do something which slows down my computer. I've never had a blue screen, but many times I've had to reboot to get things back to "normal".
Unfortunately some of the applications I use are not available for MacOS or Linux so I'm stuck for the time being.
What I will be doing however, depending on how good the G5 Macs really are, is moving as many applications to MacOS X to minimise my exposure to MS and all it's products.