New website aids Sun JDS users, IT managers

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Jul. 12, 2004

A new community driven website launched today to support Sun's Java Desktop System (JDS) community. The JDShelp.org website features downloads of software applications compiled specifically for Sun's JDS as well as howtos, tutorials, links, and resources dedicated to the Linux desktop, on which JDS is based.

Sun's JDS has gained a following in recent months, particularly outside the United States. With an installed base estimated at 40 million, Sun touts the benefits of open source and stresses the cost advantage of JDS.

Sun's Java Desktop System is available as an annual subscription for US $100 per desktop user, or $50 per employee for existing Java Enterprise System customers. Sun is offering a "trade-up program" for users looking to move off their existing desktop. With the proof of purchase of a desktop environment, qualified users will be able to purchase the Java Desktop System for $50.

The JDSHelp website was launched by authors of the upcoming O'Reilly book Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop by Tom Adelstein and Sam Hiser. They are joined by contributors Dave Southern, Brian Goodyear, and Phil Howard.

JDSHelp aims to help ease the migration for new users and provide the applications these users need to fully appreciate JDS. The site came about when Adelstein began telling his business associates about JDS, and Sam Hiser, a veteran of the OpenOffice.org project, tried it and suggested that they write an online manual and combine Linux and StarOffice documentation. This approach soon ended up as the basis of an O'Reilly manual for JDS.

Santa Clara, CA-based Sun Microsystems's JDS is a variant of the Novell-owned SuSE Linux desktop. Sun also leverages the open source office suite, OpenOffice.org, as the basis of its own StarOffice suite that runs on JDS. Differences between the community versions and the commercial ones from Sun center on functionality and licensing of certain proprietary components such as software to play CDs and DVDs, as well as other software that requires licensing. Sun's JDS contains proprietary Java support pieces, and offers a role-based configuration manager that changes the Linux desktop to accommodate the user who logs in from any workstation.

In March, German OEM software distributor Markement announced that they had sold over a million copies of Sun's StarOffice, marking more that 40 million copies of the commercial version of OpenOffice.org distributed to date, according to numbers released from Sun Microsystems.

The company teamed up with managed service provider EDS in December to help speed the delivery and adoption of the Java Desktop System for customers and partners worldwide with special pricing and other incentives. Sun also began shipping JDS on PCs from retailer Walmart.com in March to target the consumer market.

Adding management capabilities and a method to update software, Sun's JDS has the potential to make enterprise migration to Linux easier for IT. Management tools for Linux systems are increasingly finding their way into the market, as demand for Linux in the enterprise increases. Joining Sun in making tools to ease management of Linux systems are Novell's ZENworks Linux Management software (formerly Ximian's Red Carpet Enterprise) which manages Red Hat and Novell's SuSE Linux systems, Red Hat's Enterprise network for Red Hat Enterprise editions, Aduva OnStage, and Open Country's just-released OC-Manager.

Novell, IBM, Oracle, CA, and other major software makers have affirmed a commitment to open source Linux in the past few weeks with the introduction of products for the market, through open sourcing software products, and internal strategies to use Linux desktops in-house.

For further details, visit the JDS community site, JDSHelp.org.

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Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2009 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.