Microsoft - Sun Collaboration

April 2, 2004 8:29 AM

Who Would Have Thought? Sun and Microsoft just announced an historic 10 year collaboration agreement (an announcement that ended with Scott McNealy and Steve Ballmer actually shaking hands). What do you think? Ultimately beneficial ... or not?
posted by MidasMulligan (13 comments total)

Probably. It'll help those who have mixed systems and help Java proliferate.
posted by bz at 8:48 AM on April 2, 2004

On the surface it doesn't look like a bad move for Sun, considering that MS is writing them a check to the tune of $2 billion.

Possibly this represents a turn around in collaborative-based strategy for MS in light of troubles in Europe and declining market share?
posted by jazzkat11 at 8:49 AM on April 2, 2004

I can see why they might've held off a day before announcing this.
posted by trondant at 8:51 AM on April 2, 2004

Can you imagine SUNW stockholders seeing this announcement on April 1?!
posted by shoepal at 8:54 AM on April 2, 2004

Very good post, Midas - makes you think. Thank you!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:57 AM on April 2, 2004

Welcome to The Borg, son (Sun). You WILL be assimilated.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:07 AM on April 2, 2004

Ultimately beneficial is too open-ended a question. Ultimately beneficial to whom?

To Microsoft? Possibly, because they may be able to talk Sun into dropping support of Linux in exchange for these and other favors. Walmart ships PCs with Sun's Java Desktop Environment installed on them, keep in mind, so Sun dropping resources towards the development of JDE would be a serious blow to the desktop proliferation of Linux.

To Sun? Without question. They need the cash infusion and collaboration with Microsoft to stay alive. Sun has been dying for a long time, and this is the first major break they've gotten in recent memory.

To consumers? The interests of consumers are generally tied to Open Source Software (OSS), and it is impossible to predict how this will impact OSS. Sun was nearly, and may yet be destroyed by Linux. This announcement has bought them a temporary lease on life, but it remains to be seen what they do with it. Will collaboration with Microsoft = less development of Sun JDE? Or will it mean more resources are available for it thanks to the cash infusion?

It's impossible to venture a guess at this juncture.
posted by Ryvar at 9:17 AM on April 2, 2004

Sun also announced today that they're (almost literally) decimating their workforce.
posted by trondant at 9:32 AM on April 2, 2004

Just to get this out of the way:
Java != JavaScript.

Thank you.
posted by spazzm at 9:34 AM on April 2, 2004

The interests of consumers are generally tied to Open Source Software (OSS)

This seems like a sweeping overgeneralization, conisdering that most consumers aren't even aware of what open source software is.
posted by kindall at 9:44 AM on April 2, 2004

Maybe Sun is in big trouble and grasping at whatever straws it can to not sink beneath the waves and become yet another out-dated, over-priced, under-useful platform with an admittedly great logo.

When Alcibiades ran to the Persians was that the dawn of a new era of cooperation or the last gasp of a player who wouldn't admit the game was up?
posted by freebird at 10:03 AM on April 2, 2004

Ballmer to McNealy: How much to close all these open cases and make them go away?

McNealy: Two Billllllion Dollars <in best dr evil voice>

Ballmer: Ok

McNealy: <blink , blink> uhm, really?
posted by dirtylittlemonkey at 10:05 AM on April 2, 2004

I was going to question whether a co-operative agreement with MS has ever benifited the other party when I remembered Apple recieved a big chunk of change from them and is OK. Usually though they get crushed like a bug; I hope this doesn't happen to Sun if only because of all the work they have been putting into OpenOffice
posted by Mitheral at 2:14 PM on April 2, 2004