The University of Hong Kong has started deploying the Java Desktop System (JDS), a move that may help boost the city's adoption of alternative desktop operating platforms to Windows.
This move makes it the first university in the Asia-Pacific region to conduct a large-scale rollout of JDS, according to university alumnus and Sun Microsystems Hong Kong general manager Danny Tam. Sun donated the software to the university.
The company has provided more than US$7 billion worth of software, technical support and training to various education and research communities worldwide.
'JDS offers lower cost, reduced management complexity and a desktop platform that is less prone to viruses,' Mr Tam said.
About 300 students and staff at the university's department of computer science are evaluating JDS, which was developed by Sun using free open-source technologies. It includes the Gnome desktop environment, Sun's StarSuite office productivity program, Mozilla browser, Evolution e-mail and calendar, Java 2 Standard Edition software and Linux.
Dean of engineering Ng Tung-sang said he hoped the school's evaluation of JDS would serve as an example and encourage other institutions to provide more choice in their computing facilities.
