Alan DuBoff wrote:
>The next meeting of SVOSUG will feature a presentation by the Xorg group, >notably Alan Coopersmith, showing the latest Xorg changes and/or what is >in store, but to also show Compiz. > >Your comments got me to thinking, and I have really come to the conclusion >that Solaris has made some incredible improvements on the desktop, IMO. > >1) The new-boot architecture brought us into the modern age of booting. > >2) Xorg replaced Xsun as the X server, and we have more support for video >than we ever had. > >3) RealPlayer - This was a long and hard battle, and finally we have a >RealPlayer that is included in Solaris and/or can be added to OpenSolaris. > >4) Flash...another long and hard battle which I was involved in before I >joined Sun. We have had some problems with the current Flash 9 being >delivered, but it is out now and we're in ok shape on this, IMO. > >5) NWAM - this will change the way folks use their laptops, the way they >connect, and will elliminate much of the confusion in system configuration >that prevents new folks from being able to use their systems more easily. > >6) JDS - while not my favorite desktop, it has moved Solaris away from the >old CDE, and this is good for many of the new adopters of >Solaris/OpenSolaris. There have been quite a few developments in JDS and >quite a bit has changed. > >7) Additional desktop software such as GIMP, gphoto, evince, etc...this >has made it easier for the bulk of folks to use their Solaris/OpenSolaris >systems to interact with web work, image editing, and incorporating their >digital pics. > >8) StarOffice - was not even being built for Solaris on x86 when I joined >Sun more than 4 years ago. It has been packaged and on the system for the >past 2 years at least. This is a huge improvement and we have an office >suite that allows us to function in the real world. > >9) Mozilla, Firefox, Thunderbird - also not being built for >Solaris/OpenSolaris when I came to Sun. I pounded on the folks responsible >for it and made them change their ways by starting to build the packages >and distributing them on my own. We have current versions in new builds >now, and it's setup with flash to work. This is a HUGE improvement over >what we had 2 years ago. > >10) wifi - people laughed when you mentioned wifi on Solaris a couple >years ago. Now we have several decent drivers that allow us to connect >over wireless networks, and using WEP as well. > >I can probably think of more, given time, but this list above I believe >represents an incredible leap for Solaris, and certainly on x86. Sun has >shown that they are in the x86 space for the long haul, even the execs >speak it on stage when they give presentations these days. > >Do you really think that this is all a part of the "basics"? These, IMO, >are huge improvements to bring out system/desktop to the masses, and >Solaris/OpenSolaris continues to move forward. > >-- > > can I suggest considering the following items? 1) a current, working and maintained port of eclipse 2) kde (much more powerful, lightweight and usable than gnome, IMO) 3) the Reply-to header in its lists :-) those are all topics that some kind third party soul sometimes provides, thus they shouldn't really require a lot of effort to merge in Opensolaris (especially item n. 3) _______________________________________________ opensolaris-discuss mailing list [email protected]
