"Sun Microsystems will get into the PC business next year, selling a Linux-based desktop that will cost less than half to own and operate than a comparable system running Windows, Sun CEO Scott McNealy said Wednesday.
"McNealy had said last month that Sun was planning to offer a Linux PC to compete with Microsoft, but he offered further details Wednesday at the SunNetwork 2002 conference here. McNealy disclosed that Sun will sell the PC hardware as well as the software--calling the system a 'purple box,' a phrase that applies his company's trademark product hue to the 'white box' term for generic PCs.
"Not everyone will want one of the Sun products, McNealy said. 'It's a very compelling, if limited, market opportunity today,' he said. Sun plans to aim the product at 'limited-use environments,' including education, government, retail, banking, and corporate call centers, staffed with those answering phones..."
