Sun: Another Step To Irrelevancy

Sun today says that Microsoft is forcing customers to upgrade their software due to the removal of Java.

In an open letter to customers, Sun executive vice president Jonathan Schwartz said Microsoft's decision to stop distributing older products such as Windows 98 is a deliberate attempt to coerce customers to upgrade to newer software.

"It's a lesson in how a company with legendary market dominance can lose sight of customer priorities, and force an unnecessary transition onto a customer base already paralyzed with viruses and security breaches," Schwartz said in the letter, which was published Thursday.

Schwartz took the opportunity to pitch Sun's own desktop software, which uses Java and runs on Linux, to current Microsoft customers. "Sun Microsystems will agree to match any offer Microsoft puts on the table for desktop software--at 50% of Microsoft's quoted offer," Schwartz said in a statement.

[News.com]

Sounds pretty lame to me. Seems to me like Sun got it backwards. They're the ones that forced Microsoft to drop their products. By claiming that they did it “too soon” doesn't mean jack. If I were Microsoft, I'd put out upgrade offers at $20, to make sure that Sun got as little money as possible.

I don't see how this helps the customers “already paralyzed with viruses and security breaches“ (gag me) anyways. They don't make the connection, or offer any proof that ANY of Sun's software is any safer than Microsoft's. How is that going to make me even CONSIDER giving merit to their statement?

Sun needs to stop playing the pissy baby routine and grow up. Geez, it's like the company is being run by a bunch of 5 year olds. Quit living in the past and start doing something innovative (Java Virtual Desktop is NOT an innovation), or you will have front row seats to distruction by your own hands.