Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Servers

    Comparing the Costs of Sun, Red Hat Offerings

    By
    Jason Brooks
    -
    June 21, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Sun Microsystems Inc.s Java Desktop System and Red Hat Inc.s Red Hat Desktop are built on free software, but neither is free of cost.

      Both desktop Linux products have annual, per-machine subscription fees, although its possible, with either product, to cancel a subscription and continue using the software indefinitely without updates or support. However, the availability of software updates and support is one of the biggest draws for enterprise-oriented Linux distributions.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifClick here to read eWEEK Labs reviews of Java Desktop System 2 and Red Hat Desktop.

      Suns Java Desktop System 2 costs $100 per desktop per year or $50 per employee per year. (Sun is offering promotional pricing of $50 per desktop or $25 per employee until the end of this year.) The management framework for Java Desktop System is included in the price of the system.

      Red Hat Desktop is sold in packs, and, in contrast to Java Desktop System, self-hosted management tools cost extra. A Proxy Starter Pack, which includes Red Hats Proxy Server and 10 one-year desktop entitlements, costs $2,500. The Satellite Starter Pack comes with Satellite Server—which enables companies to self-host the Red Hat Network service—and 50 one-year desktop entitlements for a price of $13,500. An Extension Pack with 50 entitlements costs $3,500 ($70 per desktop).

      Both the Satellite Server and Proxy Server editions include a copy of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS, Premium Edition—a bargain, since this application costs $2,499 on its own.

      Java Desktop System 2 and Red Hat Desktop ship with StarOffice 7 and OpenOffice.org 1.1, respectively. To compare the costs of these packages against a combination of Microsoft Corp.s Windows XP and Office 2003 under Microsofts Software Assurance license subscription plan, we visited www.licenseonline.com for a price quote on the Microsoft products. (Microsoft doesnt disclose volume pricing to the press.)

      For 500 desktops, the price for each Microsoft-loaded system was $636.83. This price covers the full license cost of Windows and Office and two years of upgrades, but no management components.

      The roughly $640 in software costs per desktop for Windows compares with $140 for two years of Red Hat Desktop or $150 to $200 for two years of Java Desktop System (depending on whether you factor in Suns promotional price for the first year.) This demonstrates the level of software savings companies can expect by moving to Linux when and where it makes sense. Particularly for basic needs, retraining costs should be minimal.

      Of course, companies can cut their software costs significantly by swapping out Microsoft Office for OpenOffice.org, which is free.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Linux & Open Source Center at http://linux.eweek.com for the latest open-source news, reviews and analysis.

      /zimages/2/77042.gif

      Be sure to add our eWEEK.com Linux news feed to your RSS newsreader or My Yahoo page

      Jason Brooks
      As Editor in Chief of eWEEK Labs, Jason Brooks manages the Labs team and is responsible for eWEEK's print edition. Brooks joined eWEEK in 1999, and has covered wireless networking, office productivity suites, mobile devices, Windows, virtualization, and desktops and notebooks. Jason's coverage is currently focused on Linux and Unix operating systems, open-source software and licensing, cloud computing and Software as a Service. Follow Jason on Twitter at jasonbrooks, or reach him by email at jbrooks@eweek.com.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      10 Best AI 3D Generators 2023

      Aminu Abdullahi - November 17, 2023 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for creating 3D models and animations. Discover the 10 best AI 3D Generators for 2023 and explore their features.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×