From a base ripping off Stanford to this...shoehorning Linux into thin
clients for fat markups on high margins.Crips to MS Bloods.
Cost has always been the main argument for thin-client computing--is it
harder to make that case now that Wal-Mart is selling $200 Linux PCs?
Not at all. I think the more of those that are sold to consumers, the
better it is for everyone in the non-Microsoft camp. It's all Linux-based,
just like our platform. Having different companies address different market
segments is a good thing. I applaud Michael (Robertson) at Lindows for
trying to tackle the consumer space.
But I don't see major enterprises buying their systems from Wal-Mart. They
want an end-to-end solution, they want 24-7 help, they want on-site service.
How central is Java to Madhatter?
We think Java will become a much more dominant programming platform.
Enterprises want the ability to run multiplatform applications, and the
only way to create those is in Java. The ability to leverage different
computing platforms, even different Linux flavors, is very important.
The value proposition we're adding is taking all these layers of software
and really integrating it well into a full system. We've seen in the
marketplace other attempts at Linux desktops...basically what they've done
is take a lot of open-source software, throw it on a CD and expect it to be
a complete desktop. What we've been trying to do is look at all the things
required for a complete desktop, and Java is a big part of filling in those
gaps.
Will Madhatter use the standard Gnome Linux interface, or will you come up
with your own?
CIOs let us know they really don't want to spend a lot of money to retrain
employees. That means we have to provide a user interface already familiar
to them, which means staying close to a Windows look and feel. That doesn't
mean everything is identical, but things should be familiar, so nobody has
to spend time relearning the system.
StarOffice just claimed its first victory with a major PC maker. Where do
you see the major opportunities for StarOffice? Is it retail, OEM or
enterprise customers?
We've had a lot of success at retail...What we've focused our energies on
recently is to work with OEMs and Linux distribution companies. We're
bundled with Linux as far away as China, with its Red Flag software.
Distribution to me is really critical. I think the combination of
StarOffice and OpenOffice (the free, open-source version of the software)
is just a great one-two punch.
We've also focused on hardware OEMs--that's sort of our next venue. We made
our first announcement with Sony, and there's more to come. We also think
there are opportunities in the service provider space. The big thing is
that having the compatibility with Office creates a whole wealth of
opportunities.
StarOffice had a lot of popularity first on Windows. But once enterprises
evaluate software alternatives, one of the first things they want is to not
have to pay for a Windows license. What we're providing is a way for
enterprises to move off the entire Windows platform.
You've talked a lot about Microsoft, but isn't Corel's WordPerfect the main
competition for StarOffice?
No, I never view Corel as the competition, because its market share is
pretty low. And we've been working with Corel in OASIS (a trade group
formulating an open, XML-based format for office documents).
I don't view it really as competition. I view it as an alternative to
Microsoft, and the more of that that happens, the better it is for everyone
else.
Has the settlement of the Microsoft antitrust case helped promote interest
in software alternatives?
I'm not sure if it was the antitrust case. I think it's more Microsoft
licensing policies of late. That and the economic situation. In the good
times, nobody really cared about the expense of desktops, the expense of
manageability, the cost of applying patch after patch. We're in a different
world now, where every penny counts for CIOs. I think that's probably more
what's opened up the industry. It's more about security, cost and open
standards.
What are your goals for StarOffice as far as market penetration?
Distribution to me is really critical. I think the combination of
StarOffice and OpenOffice (the free, open-source version of the software)
is just a great one-two punch. You have an open version for people to try,
and that opens up the market that much more. And when they decide they need
the support and other resources we offer, StarOffice is there.
We've already had 10 million downloads of OpenOffice, and I think it's
going to keep growing. From my perspective, every version of OpenOffice
used and every version of StarOffice sold is one less user for Microsoft
Office.
Some of the analysts have predicted we'll be at 10 percent (of the office
suite market) in 2004. That would be nice. And I think there's room for
growth beyond that. But I'm still being pragmatic. I don't think we're
going to get 50 percent market share. But if I can get 15 or 20 percent, I
think that would be pretty nice and pretty achievable.
Microsoft has talked a lot about adding XML functions to the next version
of Office. Is that part of Sun's plans for StarOffice?
Our default software map is XML today. It's not a future thing; we're
supporting it today.
I think the thing Microsoft hasn't really stated is that its XML format
includes some binary codings that it doesn't plan to make public, so it's
not an open XML file format. I don't think that does the industry any good.
The best thing for the industry, end users and developers is to use fully
open XML, so we really encourage developers to use those capabilities.
http://news.com.com/2008-1082-978398.html?tag=fd_nc_1
