-------- Original-Message -------- > Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:19:14 -0700 > Von: Alan Coopersmith <Alan.Coopersmith at Sun.COM> > To: Daniel Quinlan <danq at brtt.com> > CC: xwin-discuss at opensolaris.org, John Martin <John.M.Martin at Sun.COM> > Subject: Re: [xwin-discuss] [desktop-discuss] The end of Sparc desktops?
> The thread originally started off on desktop-discuss, where you can > read the previous postings at: > > http://www.opensolaris.org/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=68296 > > Notice that I said "*if* no SPARC workstation is ever sold again" - I > can't comment publicly on Sun's hardware plans until they are > announced by the product groups in question - I was just offering > alternatives, since it as people have noticed with the end of the > UltraSPARC IIIi line we are in a period with no SPARC workstations > being sold - but I can't say if that's temporary or permanent, sorry. > > As John suggests Sun's sales and IHV/ISV relations people are the > right contacts, this is an open source software development discussion > list, with engineers who work on the X Window System, and we don't > have the right people here to answer questions or take your input > about Sun's hardware strategy. > > -Alan Coopersmith- alan.coopersmith at sun.com > Sun Microsystems, Inc. - X Window System Engineering > > Daniel Quinlan wrote: > > Perhaps I misunderstood this, but as I read it, it says is that > > you can still use SPARC if you have a server where you can run the > > application. I can't find the original posting from Alan Coopersmith, I > > guess, so maybe I missed the context. > > > > Do you have a suggestion where to discuss future hardware offerings? > > We've gotten conflicting answers, and it's an issue of concern to us > > and growing concern to our current customers. > > > > Thanks, > > -- danq > > > > >> Even if no SPARC workstation is ever sold again after the end of > > >> the current UltraSPARC-IIIi line, it's not the end of the SPARC > > >> desktop, nor of being able to develop and/or run SPARC desktop > > >> applications. @Daniel: Alan (and others) are right. #0.) Nobody knows about future H/W offering plans, and even those who do, are not permitted to tell us what they may or may not know, however: The opensolaris src and closed bins tree tend to provide a quite early preview (A rule by thumb may be, that they allow you to look up to one year into the future, before a given system gets publicly launched - as decided by the corresponding management "deciders", ha.) ;-) #1.) Who defines the difference between a "Server", a "Desktop" or a "Telco"? Do you remember the times when SS10, SS20, Ultra1, U2, U5/10 or U450 and E450 (difference: U450 was a "Workstation", the E450 was a "Server" [although not at the same time, and with different enclosure numbers and a few other differences]) were still current models, a feeled short while ago? Back then Sun had sold those workstations also as "servers" at a higher price point. Yes, in the same Desktop enclosures, just with the letter 'S' added to the brand label. I'm not even talking about something like same_mobo&&same__cpu__but__different_enclosure_and/or_OBP, no: The U10 S for example, was just a U10. The letter 'S' alone was it what made it cost more. Sounds unbelievable? Look here: http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&q=%22sun+ultra+10S%22&btnG=Suche&meta= http://ru.sun.com/products/news/1998/March/ultra10s.html Good "deciders" appeared to be willing to spend more for such a marginal difference: The letter 'S' plus the category "Server". Interested in other marketing fluff? Check this: http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.sun.hardware/browse_thread/thread/c4e90cce22d28df9/0d0512701b27a6a8?hl=en&lnk=st&q=%22did+you+ever%22+blade+sun+#0d0512701b27a6a8 I for my part don't let marketing tell me, what I should or shouldn't use as workstation, or as server, or both exclusively or even inclusively at once (Zones!). In my opinion Sun is still selling very nice SPARC Desktops: Get more for less [0]. [0] http://www.sun.com/servers/coolthreads/overview/index.jsp And in case you decide to use T1000's as Desktops, *congrats*. And you even get a T1000 for less absolute money, than a U25 or U45. In relative monetary terms, you almost get it for free (when compared to what the U25 or single IIIi cpu U45 would offer at the same [or higher price]). I think this is what Alan means. Xorg at T1000: Will work with libpciaccess (upcoming Xorg 7.4 / server 1.5++). And to get the driver working should simply be a matter of compiling and debugging it. Net result: Bright future for us SPARC Desktop users. %martin - - Martin Bochnig Vinnitsya, Ukraine http://visgetidentifier.blogspot.com/
