More on Sun Java System

See this page on the Sun Microsystems site for details and video from the conference at which it announced a revamped line of products, including a Linux-based alternative to Microsoft's Windows operating system for desktop computers. Here also is the Sun press release, and the Associated Press story that ran in today's paper about the product, formerly known as Mad Hatter and now known as the Sun Java Desktop System. Companies involved in the project include Seattle's RealNetworks, as we noted in a recent Tech Digest item.

We asked Microsoft to respond to this announcement yesterday, and it sent along this statement from Greg Sullivan, a lead product manager with the company: "Our customers tell us that they choose Windows because it is the platform that delivers the best business value. Microsoft will continue to invest in the Windows platform to ensure it remains the choice of our customers and is clearly the most valuable offering available."

In addition, various technology-related weblogs are offering commentary on the announcement. See, for example, the personal weblog of Microsoft employee Robert Scoble, a technical evangelist for the next version of Windows who was featured in our earlier story on Microsoft employee blogs. He, in turn, points to others outside Microsoft with views on the subject, including technical consultant and programmer Russell Beattie .