Java Desktop System - Definition and Overview

JDS screenshot

Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) is an operating system from Sun Microsystems, for the low-cost corporate desktop computer market.

JDS aims to provide a system familiar to the average computer user with a full suite of office productivity software such as email, calendaring, office suite, web browser and instant messaging.

The name reflects Sun's intention to promote this as a venue for corporate users to deploy software written for the Java platform; it is actually built on top of Unix and currently uses a SuSE-based Linux distribution. A Solaris-based edition is due by mid-2004, and in the future it will also be available for Sun's SunRay thin-client system.

The Java Desktop System uses mainly free software and includes:

• Java 1.4.2
• GNOME 2.2 (using the Blueprint theme)
• StarOffice 7.0
• Mozilla 1.4
• Evolution 1.4
• MP3 and CD player
• Java Media Player (uses the Java Media Framework (http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/jmf/2.1.1/formats.html))
• Gaim multi-service instant messaging
• RealPlayer

See also

• Project Looking Glass

External links

• Sun Java Desktop System (Sun) (http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/)
• OS News review (http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=5286)
• eWeek Review (http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1396988,00.asp)