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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Michael F. Donadio who wrote (24260)	12/7/1999 6:23:00 PM
From: Thomas Mercer-Hursh	Respond to of 64865

I don't think the issue with ECMA or any other standards body was a question of losing control as much as it was not wanting to get it mired down in a slow, protacted standardization process at a time when Java needs to be nimble and responsive. As new needs and opportunities are identified in the move to enterprise Java, someone needs to define a standard and get it circulated quickly so that people can move forward around a common approach. We have already seen a few lumps over EJBs not getting pinned down and staying put -- through many of the standards bodies, this could have taken an additional two years which could easily be fatal.

To: Michael F. Donadio who wrote (24260)	12/7/1999 6:49:00 PM
From: Michael F. Donadio	Respond to of 64865

Sun Micro plans new Java software By Mike Tarsala, CBS MarketWatch Last Update: 6:03 PM ET Dec 7, 1999 Software Report PALO ALTO, Calif. (CBS.MW) -- Sun Microsystems Inc. on Tuesday released new software that works with its Java programming language and offered one of its basic Java products for free. The Palo Alto, Calif. maker of server computers-- and also the inventor of Java -- unveiled its Java 2 Enterprise Edition software at an event in New York. The software is aimed at updating several parts of the platform used for running Java programs, according to company executives. "There's a whole lot of shaking going on, and it's all good stuff," said Pat Sueltz, Sun's (SUNW: news, msgs) newly appointed Java guru. Sueltz, former head of Java at IBM Corp. (IBM: news, msgs) took the place of Alan Baratz, Sun's former top Java executive, who left in August to take a position as managing director at a private equity capital firm. One of the features Sun spruced up is its ability to work with code used to help software developers write programs in Java quickly. The revamped Java 2 software includes easier-to-use features for working with Sun's Enterprise Java Beans reusable code format. New Linux version Sun also introduced a version of its high-end Java 2 Enterprise Edition software for the Linux operating system. Sun worked with Scotts Valley, Calif.-based Inprise (INPR: news, msgs) to develop the Java for Linux, using Inprise's compiler software designed to help Java programs run faster. Linux is a low-cost variant of the Unix operating system. Since its introduction in 1991, the programming instructions to linux have been given away to anyone who wants them. Anyone who wants to tinker with the work done on it can do so for free also. Linux competes with Microsoft's (MSFT: news, msgs) operating systems. In recent months, stocks of several companies involved with Linux, including Red Hat (RHAT: news, msgs) and Corel (CORL: news, msgs) have rocketed due to Microsoft's ongoing antitrust trial woes. What's more, Sun introduced for the first time Java software that works with the Extensible Mark-Up Language data forma, or XML for short. Software using XML -- which has become popular in the past two years -- can take data from database software, spreadsheets and documents and quickly turn it into one format that can be recognized by programs that run over the Internet. XML is somewhat similar to Java, which can be made to work with many different hardware and software types. But XML works to bridge the many different data types, instead of hardware and software types. "The Java 2 Enterprise Edition is easier to work with, and easier to implement," said Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies Inc, in Campbell, Calif. "The bottom line, there have been a lot of complaints about Java being slow. The whole idea of moving applications to Java has been slow, as well. I don't know if it will alleviate all concerns, but this should go along way to expanding Java's reach in the market." Free for all In a separate announcement, Sun said that for the first time it will give away its Java 2 Standard Edition software at no charge. Before the announcement, Java 2 software cost up to $50,000 for an individual, although prices are normally negotiated by large corporations. The change reflects a broader change in the software market, Sun's Sueltz says. "The services and support is where folks are making their money -- not on the software royalties," Sueltz said. The move could be seen as an act of goodwill by Sun, which has been harangued by other software makers for trying to make Java an "open" standard available for use by all companies, yet charging for certain aspects of it. "This is a very good move by Sun, and one that should be applauded by all of the Java users," Bajarin said. " It's giving the base code away, so it makes it much more likely that people will use Java in their next-generation platforms." cbs.marketwatch.com Michael

To: Michael F. Donadio who wrote (24260)	12/7/1999 7:00:00 PM
From: fuzzymath	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 64865

Has SUNW lost both its edge and its marbles? This news shocks me. No matter what the "standards" bodies say, you're free to innovate. And the fight was primarily with IBM? While IBM is good (I like IBM!), they're still light years behind Sun in INVENTING the future. IBM is simply becoming nimble at sensing where things are going and going there too. This baffles me. But then, as Lynn made me realize, my view of Sun is kind of through rose-colored glasses, because I don't like Microsoft (though I'm working daily on Windows 2000 development for portfolio performance evaluation). You have to play the "game", at least a little bit. Even if your "playing" is entirely tongue-in-cheek. I now see SUNW only tracking the market for the coming months. This move disappoints me. SUNW is off my top 5 list. Kevin Farnham

To: Michael F. Donadio who wrote (24260)	12/7/1999 9:01:00 PM
From: cfimx	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

>>Sun had hoped to turn Java over to a standards body called ECMA but announced today it's withdrawing from the effort. >> bad things man!!

To: Michael F. Donadio who wrote (24260)	12/12/1999 6:20:00 PM
From: uu	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 64865

Hi Michael: Re: Sun not wanting to standardize Java anymore This makes perfect sense at this time! It is sort of like, if you dont have a headache why bother taking a pill! Three years ago - or even 2 years ago - it did make sense for Sun to create the smoke and mirror of pushing for standardizing Java. Because of all that smoke and the industry's anticipation for Sun's push to go through (after all they are the inventor so their words carry a lot) Sun's Java started becoming the de facto standard. At this time practically all internet based applications are written with Sun's Java in mind. Therefore if something is already the de facto standard why on earth spend the time and energy pushing for its official standardization?! It is sort of like Microsoft pushing for its operating system to become the industry standard for PCs!! Anyway, Sun's server centric computing model has been a success beyond even their own wildest imaginations. And if anyone doubts this I ask to pay attention to TV commercials the next time you see a prime time show! They all are mostly about .COM companies!! Keep in mind Java was, is and will continue to be just a baite for Sun to sell its servers. I was at Exodus Communications the other day. This is the Company that provides web hosting for practically every mom-and-pops .COM Company from hotmail to yahoo, to Ebay to joeCool.com! Their data data centers in Santa Clara, CA are already filled even before they are finisihed building them! They lease 2 small tiny racks holding 8 servers for about $3800/mo! Not a bad business at all! And guess what as I was getting a tour of their data centers I noticed practically 90% of servers used by most of the .COM companies leasing such servers are made by Sun! It was amazing! Yes, Sun has succeeded in its use of Java as a baite to expand its hardware side business. And the stock does indeed show this success. Sun now has a market cap that is passed that of HP, and because of that in my view it is extremely overvalued beyond wildest imaginations (at least mine)! But then again you look at the market and show me a stock that is not overvalued! Despite this extreme overvaluations I am just regretfull that I sold most of my shares earlier. Although I still have some from 4-5 years ago, still it is no where near what I had at what point about a year ago. But I can not complain about making money even though a little bit more greed could have made me a lot more! Hopefully LSI Logic will do what my conservative greed prevented me with SUNW! Regards, Addi Jamsshidi