Sun Unit to Sell PC Operating Software
The software subsidiary of high-flying computer workstation seller Sun Microsystems announced Wednesday that it will make the Sun software operating system available for high-end personal computers.
The move will put Sun’s recently formed SunSoft unit into direct competition with computer industry giants Microsoft Corp., IBM and Apple in supplying personal computer operating systems, which control the basic functions of the machines.
Most personal computers use the DOS operating system from Microsoft, but DOS cannot handle many of the complex tasks--such as simultaneous execution of several operations--that are possible with newer, high-performance personal computers.
Microsoft is developing a new operating system for more powerful PCs, and Apple and IBM are collaborating on an operating system of their own. These new systems, as well as the SunSoft software, are oriented toward complex business computing rather than home or small-business applications.
The SunSoft product, dubbed Solaris, is a version of AT&T;’s UNIX operating system from AT&T.;
Until now it had been available only on Sun machines or “clones” that use Sun’s SPARC computer design.
Making Solaris available on personal computers that use Intel’s high-end 386 and 486 microprocessors should stimulate the development of applications software--such as word processors or spreadsheets--that will work with the Sun machines.
The strategy carries risks for Sun, because it could lead some customers to purchase Intel-based desktop computers rather than SPARC-based Sun machines.
Dell Computer, AST Research and several other PC companies announced Wednesday that they would support the Sun operating system on their PCs, along with traditional PC operating systems.
The PC version of Solaris will be available in early to mid-1992.
Ed Zander, president of San Jose-based SunSoft, noted that PCs are a huge potential market, and thus “we don’t need a lot of market share to get a lot of volume.”
Despite its remarkable success in maintaining growth and profitability during the computer industry’s slump, Sun’s computer shipments remain tiny compared to those of the major PC makers.
