Sun Microsystems Inc. got its wish: its Microsoft Windows alternative Java Desktop System is now available preloaded, on Microtel Computer Systems Inc. hardware, and available for sale at discount retailer Wal-Mart. "We now have an active relationship with Microtel," Jonathan Schwartz, the executive vice president of Sun's software group, told reporters at a software day at its campus here.
"Sun is a technology provider and our Java Desktop System is now preloaded on Microtel hardware and available for sale at Wal-Mart for under $300 a system. The Microtel SYSWM8001 PC, with an AMD [Advanced Micro Devices Inc.] Duron 1.6GHz chip and no floppy drive can be bought for $298 from Wal-Mart now," he said. eWEEK last December first reported that Sun was negotiating with major retailers Wal-Mart and Office Depot to include its Java Desktop System on consumer PCs and laptops. Schwartz said on Tuesday that "we are seriously considering Wal-Mart now to be the PC supplier for Sun Microsystems. We also have some 500 pilots of our Java Desktop System and the Java Enterprise System now running across the world and North America is the most cynical market when it comes to looking at Microsoft alternatives.
News source: eWeek
