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

To: Tom Day who wrote (7147)	1/21/1998 3:58:00 PM
From: Nolan Toone	Respond to of 64865

> As if that weren't enough questions, here's > one more: Is there any relationship between > JavaOS and Java the language (except for the > name?) JavaOS is the Java language ported directly to that hardware, No added functionality. So if it isn't need to run a java application it isn't on the system, so if you're on a WinNT or a Unix system and write in Java you can use the Native interfaces to access capablities on the underlying system but with JavaOS there is NO underlying system so .... 100% Pure Java. Benifits: Faster system (or smaller depending on how you look at it) Penalty: Fewer services

To: Tom Day who wrote (7147)	1/21/1998 4:00:00 PM
From: Chung Yang	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

>>>> Raises lots of Q's. Will JavaOS compete with Solaris on x86? What HW will it run on? What distribution channel does Sun plan for it? Why did IBM choose it for some new systems? I.e., in what situations is it a best choice? <<<< JavaOS will not compete with Solaris on x86. Solaris is intended to be powerful workstation and server operating system while JavaOS is intended for thin clients. An example, JavaOS for running on a pentium computer and/or a JavaStation connected to a multiprocessor Pentium II system running Solaris. This would be a very effective client-server hardware combination. So they are intended to work with each other. >>>> Babu, what do you see here that leads you to believe JavaOS is going to kick a$$? <<<< I'll try to answer this also. JavaOS is not out yet. So it remains questionable. But if all goes well. JavaOS will be a standard configuration for thin clients in an enterprise environment. >>>> As if that weren't enough questions, here's one more: Is there any relationship between JavaOS and Java the language (except for the name?) <<< JavaOS is a layer of software that runs on a given hardware platform that allows the programs written in Java the language to execute on. - Chung

To: Tom Day who wrote (7147)	1/21/1998 4:08:00 PM
From: Babu Arunachalam	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

Raises lots of Q's. Will JavaOS compete with Solaris on x86? What HW will it run on? What distribution channel does Sun plan for it? Why did IBM choose it for some new systems? I.e., in what situations is it a best choice? I believe that JavaOS is developed for NCs. NCs are not going to compete with power desktops. I suppose that the JavaOS is being developed for the SPARC architecture. Except for a small part of the code, the OS is written entirely in Java which means it can be ported to any hardware with minimal changes (changes due to the assembly and C code which cannot be done away with in any OS). I'm not sure about the distribution channel they are going to use. If SUN can convince all NC makers to include the JavaOS in the client, it's a major coup!! Volume is projected to be greater than PCs in 2000. Even otherwise IBM claims to have sold more than 100,000 NCs last year. Well, the NC market hasn't even taken off yet!! Babu, what do you see here that leads you to believe JavaOS is going to kick a$$? Most thin client devices could use versions of the JavaOS. Embedded market is also wide open for the JavaOS - things like set-top boxes, kiosks, palmtops, and eveything else. Devices with picoJava core processors could run Java faster than other architectures because it's instruction set is the byte code itself. JavaOS would be the first choice for devices which use the picoJava core. The real advantage in the embedded market for Java is the availability of tools for development and independence on the hardware. As if that weren't enough questions, here's one more: Is there any relationship between JavaOS and Java the language (except for the name?) As I said, JavaOS is written almost (95%) entirely in Java. It makes it highly portable. I assume that limited file handling capabilities (like caching) is present in the JavaOS. I was told some time back (from a friend at SUN) that JavaOS doesn't support virtual memory - it is suited for embedded devices (which don't use virtual memory). JavaOS is not going to compete with Solaris because it's functionality is limited and not intended to be a ServerOS. Power desktops (workstations) and servers will use Solaris and not JavaOS. Cheers, Babu