Sun Microsystems last week (28 October) officially announced the imminent release of its Sun Java Desktop System, an affordable comprehensive, simple to use and secure enterprise-grade desktop solution.
The announcement was made at SunForum SA, part of a national road show where Sun customers and resellers were advised on the company's vision and strategy update.
The most startling announcement was made jointly by Dumisani Mtoba, senior systems engineer at Sun, and Daryl Blundell, infrastructure business unit manager at ICL. Their subject "Alternative Desktop Solution" focused on the new Java Desktop System set for release before year-end.
Heading the list of benefits, Blundell stated that companies can reduce their total cost of acquisition by up to 75% rather than upgrading to the latest versions of Office and Windows as well as reduce their total cost of operating their Windows desktop environment by up to 25%
In addition, the new system, through the implementation of a Sun Ray Thin Client solution, would assist in reducing desktop complexity and significantly reduces time to deploy.
"Protecting corporate data and applications is achieved through the Linux operating system not allowing viruses and worms to modify system files, as well as through the extended security components within the Sun Ray Java Card Reader and the Sun Java System Identity Server.
"The support of open standards and protocols allows for shared printing, files, and documents, along with access to existing back-end systems."
Because the desktop alternative runs on a Linux/Unix operating system, strict security system root access control prevents viruses from modifying files. And, the Java sandbox security infrastructure prevents viruses from infecting the system environment.
"Sun is leading the way in delivering the first viable Microsoft Windows alternative in years with a more affordable, secure desktop that is designed to thrive in today's world," says Blundell.
Mtoba says CIOs owe it to their organisations to find a desktop computing strategy that balances cost of ownership, workforce productivity and important security considerations. They must also replace their operating systems and office productivity suites faster and more cost-effectively than ever.
"The desktop alternative offers a new, yet familiar desktop operating platform based on Linux and customers save substantially on licensing fees, training and helpdesk costs, and decrease the cost and time of administration through interoperability with existing environments," he says.
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Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.
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