Which two company high-ups said the following:

"Ten years out, in terms of actual hardware costs you can almost think of hardware as being free - I'm not saying it will be absolutely free" (March 30, 2004)

and

"In our world, you will subscribe to the software and the hardware is free." (June 1, 2004)

Nor was pricing the only innovation revealed by Sun's new president and COO in Shanghai, China, where Sun yesterday launched its latest SunNetwork conference. Schwartz presided over a wave of anouncements that, viewed together, rival the kind of momentum normally seen only at JavaOne itself, the annual Sun techfest in San Francisco.

"We're beginning to put some meat on the bones of the strategy around using both technology and economics to drive disruptive innovation in the enterprise," said Schwartz an interview timed to coincide with the first day of the conference.

By "economics" he meant, specifically, a broadening of Sun's innovative pricing structure - already introduced in his days as EVP, Software - whereby customers can use as much or as little of Sun's server or desktop software as it wants, paying according to how many employees will be using it.

By "technology" he was referring to the galaxy of initiatives Sun is rolling out, including "Java Desktop System 2" - the second release of the Linux-based Sun Java Desktop System "with new integrated desktop management and auto-update features as well as a free one-year developer tools subscription valued at $645 USD."

Sun also announced that nine new independent software vendors (ISVs) are planning to offer their applications on the Java Desktop System: Borland Software Corporation, CodeWeavers, Inc., Enactex, Inc., Ericom Software, Kabira Technologies, Inc., Linuxant, Inc., Tarantella, Inc., Transgaming Technologies, Inc., and VersiTech, LLC.

Curtis Sasaki, vice president, Desktop Solutions at Sun explained that Java Desktop System 2 "drives down the cost and complexity of managing a distributed desktop environment." The second release comes with integrated management tools that enable system administrators to centrally set policies and configurations for individuals, groups or the entire organization, providing the ability to lock down user desktop systems. They can also, Sasaki said, automatically distribute system updates and patches across the organization to all Java Desktop Systems from a central location.

Further tools allow you to perform remote desktop provisioning, management and software updates, as well as dependency checking, health monitoring and asset management, he added. 

Since the JDS uses the Mozilla browser, users can automatically eliminate spam e-mail as well as unsolicited pop-up Internet advertising.

"In response to increased customer demand," an official Sun announcement notes, "Sun is extending its promotional price of 50 percent off the Java Desktop System through December 2, 2004. The Java Desktop System, normally priced at $100 USD per desktop, will continue to be available for $50 USD."

The announcement claims that this is "over 85 percent cheaper than Microsoft's comparable offering, and delivering file interoperability and a familiar look and feel."

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