Desktop Computing Interview

Open Show in Separate Window Right click here to download video

Eric: Welcome to the Xtreme Tech Show. My name is Eric Nielsen.

Julie: And, I'm Julie Nelson. On today's show, we're going to take a look at the ever increasing options in desktop computing.

Eric: Since the beginning of the PC revolution, we've seen desktop computing dominated by Microsoft. But in the last five years, we're beginning to see a shift and strategy change.

Julie: Computers are really being sold now as fashionable, trendy appliances. Apple is the best at this. Their laptops are sold like art objects in a gallery. And their iPod, which is an appliance designed to play and store music, has integrated data capabilities that has really blurred the computing appliance space.

Eric: Even in Fry's, the mecca store for building your own PC with parts and supplies, you're starting to see a shift. If you go in now, you'll see on the shelves Linux, Red Hat, you'll see OS X machines being sold on the podiums. This is definitely a change.

Julie: Sun Microsystems has recently released a new corporate desktop offering called the Java Desktop System. The Java Desktop System is a software bundle based on Linux, Open Office, Mozilla, and other open software tools.

I wanted to see how this Java Desktop system stacked up, so I visited Sun's headquarters in Santa Clara, California.

Julie: So here we are at Sun Microsystems and I'm talking to Peder Ulander who is the head of the Java Desktop Systems unit. So, what is it that you do here?

Peder: So, I'm Peder Ulander. I'm responsible for the desktop strategy at Sun, which includes things like our Open Office strategy, StarOffice, SunRay thin clients, and our recently announced Java Desktop System.

Julie: So, what is the Java Desktop System?

Peder: What it really is, is an affordable, open, secure Linux based desktop client designed to reduce the cost and complexity of desktop solutions in the enterprise.

Julie: How easy is it to migrate from using a Windows system to the Java Desktop System?

Peder: So, I think anytime an enterprise looks at changing software, they're going to take a look at what are the switching costs with regards to usability and user functionality. We recently did a usability test whereby we took a number of Windows 95 and Windows 98 users and gave them a sheet of tasks. The first group we tested, they moved from Windows 95/Windows 98 to Windows XP. It took them 44 minutes to do the entire list of tasks. We took the same group of people, who had never seen the Java Desktop System or a Linux desktop system for that fact, and actually put them through the exact same exercise. On the Java Desktop System it took them 45 minutes. So, a one minute difference is basically about a 1% difference in usability between the system. That means they are up and running day one.

Julie: What is the quality of these applications?

Peder: So, we have StarOffice which is a full featured office productivity suite. We've got Mozilla, for those of you that are familiar with Mozilla. Mozilla is basically the open source version of the Netscape browser. We have Evolution. Evolution is a robust client for email and calendaring management.

We've got Java, of course. We've got a number of developers writing applications in Java that tie into bigger enterprise systems. So, what does that mean? We've got Computer Associates. We've got Oracle. We've also got a number of third-party vendors, like RealNetworks with their RealPlayer. We've got Macromedia. We've got Adobe. These are not small potatoes developers. We're talking Fortune 500, Fortune 1000 type applications and development environments sitting on Linux.

Julie: I know that I, personally, am really reluctant to give up my games. Am I going to lose that going to the Java Desktop System?

Peder: In our messaging and in our stories to the CIOs, we are talking about making sure that we give you the most productive environment. That said, we also have all of the cool features you that you would expect from a traditional desktop, so whether it be games or audio visual devices: you can play your MP3s. You can burn your CDs. And as far as games go, I can tell you the engineers were playing Quake the other day when I walked over.

Julie: So, you say you want to reduce costs. What exactly are you doing to make that a reality?

Peder: Right. So there's two ways of looking at cost. You have to look at total cost of acquisition and total cost of ownership. When you look at it, Microsoft today, if a CIO was to go out today and buy a brand new Microsoft machine because maybe they're migrating off of Windows 95 or migrating off of Windows 98, the fact is they're in the hole for about a thousand dollars.

We're coming out with a solution, $100 dollars, fits your existing PC infrastructure, provides you with all of the applications you need. So you actually have higher levels of uptime and productivity. So whether you're looking at total cost of ownership or total cost of acquisition, we're going to be able to come in with a solution that' s pennies on the dollar to Microsoft.

Julie: So, are we seeing a real shift around the world from the Microsoft desktop to Linux?

Peder: Well, so we're seeing a massive shift around the world with regards to open source environments as an alternative to Microsoft. China has kicked Microsoft out from all of their public sector environments. Taiwan has recently deployed an entire Linux on the desktop program for their education and government institutions. We've seen the city of Munich kick out Microsoft. Toronto has an aggressive program to get Linux on the desktop in the educational and in the public sector environments. And, specifically in the U. S., one of the interesting things, we talk about how the switch is not only about the cost of licensing, but it's also to get away from viruses and worms that are really bringing down businesses. And, the fact is, Microsoft ended up using Linux to protect itself from the blaster worm when we had that hit. What was that, about two months ago?

Julie: Wow. Even Microsoft is using Linux these days.

Peder: Absolutely.

Julie: Isn't that amazing.
Its really exciting to see an alternative to the Microsoft model. I think Sun really has something with it's Java Desktop System.

Eric: I agree, Julie. I think corporations are finally getting the opportunity to leave Microsoft and I think that is great for everyone. Well, thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time.