On Tue, 2007-08-07 at 12:57 -0700, Alan DuBoff wrote: > On Fri, 3 Aug 2007, Matthew Gardiner wrote: > > > Yes, it has changed - but I'm just frustrated at the lack of progress > > outside of the 'basics'. > > 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.
Unfortunately however, there are a sizable number who have romantic notions about where Solaris has come - thats easy, anyone can look with sheepish eyes over the past. The difficult thing is acknowledging the issues that plague Solaris *today* and doing something about it. Simply sitting back and patting each other on the back for 'past glories and achievements' does not get things fixed which today requires. Matthew _______________________________________________ opensolaris-discuss mailing list opensolaris-discuss@opensolaris.org
