Sun Microsystems

Introduction

Sun Microsystems, or Sun Corp, was a company founded in 1982. Sun began as just a computer project developed by Andreas Bechtolsteim, who worked on it in Stanford University. .Sun Corp was a multinational corporation, which stayed in business independently for over 27 years until, in 2009, was sold to Oracle for 7.4 billion dollars. Sun Microsystems was an extremely successful and influential firm in its day; Sun was best known for its part in the Unix system, developed the java platform, acquired office suites, management systems as well as other software. Sun Microsystems was also well known for its hardware, creating a niche market for itself as a low-cost alternative to other companies.

Discussion

• In the first ten years of Sun Microsystems, the company focused heavily on its production of hardware. In May 1982, Sun released its first computer, the Sun 1. This computer utilized the Motorola 68000 processor, had a large desktop tower, 17 inch monitor and used a video board, keyboard and mouse designed by Stanford University. The computer used its own operating system, the SunOS. Sun continued to use Motorola systems until 1987, when it switched to SPARC based systems.

• Although Sun Microsystems was primarily known for its hardware in the 1980’s, it was also a major player in the software market. Sun is linked to the development of Unix, an operating system well known for its reliability and user friendliness. It worked almost exclusively with a Unix OS for the first few years of business, named the SUN Solaris Unix Operating System.

• Possibly Sun’s most famous and useful creation is Java, which allows computer users to read documents, access files online, and read these files in a straightforward, appealing and entertaining way. Invented in 1991 by Sun’s “Green Team”, Sun Microsystems invented a programme that revolutionised the way users read documents. Led by the programmer James Gosling, Java was unleashed onto the world in 1991. However, the programming language had little use, remaining a non-entity until it was proven to be extremely compatible with the internet, which was just taking off at the time.

• In 1995, it was announced that Java would be incorporated into the internet navigator Netscape, a popular internet browser at the time. Java has now become the most common programming language available worldwide, with all computers being able to install it. Java has all of us, as Java allows us to view documents and web pages on one browser, and see the exact same web page when using a different browser. Though it seems simple, Java quietly helps make the internet what it is today.

• Sun’s work with Unix had a huge impact on the lives of computer users everywhere. Unix is an operating system known for its reliability, security and usability. Most importantly, Unix has an open source code, which allows anyone, anywhere, download and use the system for free, give it to friends and even re-programme it to their own needs. As a result, Unix is always evolving and changing to suit the needs of its users. This is a great asset to computer users like me as it allows us to use a dynamic and affordable operating system that changes to our individual needs, can be used easily and efficiently and can even be given by us to others. Sun Microsystem’s affiliation with Unix would prove to be a great asset to the firm.

• Sun Microsystems was one of the companies that benefited from the “dot com bubble” of the 1990’s. The company’s profits soared and the value of its shares skyrocketed. It expanded rapidly, though only partly because of the increased demand. In fact, Sun mainly expanded due to start-up businesses trading with them, expecting big business that would never happen. The bubble popped in 2000, and Sun’s consumer base collapsed in on itself as the smaller companies went into liquidation.

• Sun Microsystems continued to lose money in the early 2000’s, having to cancel many of its projects, most notably two processing projects that aimed to improve “instruction level parallelism” and “operating frequency”. It did bounce back several times during the decade, but in 2009, Sun Microsystems was forced to sell to Oracle. The company was sold for 7.4 billion dollars.

• Oracle’s acquisition of Sun was a great boon to the computing world. Oracle took on all of Sun’s projects, improving on its Solaris and Java programmes. This affects computer users like me as Oracle’s purchase of Sun has improved our everyday experience with computers, the internet and operating systems. Java especially continues to make the lives of computer users like me easier, as it makes the way I view the internet simple and entertaining.

Conclusion

Sun Microsystems was a major player in the computing world since its birth in 1982. Sun helped form Unix, the open source operating system, that gave computer users like me an operating system that was affordable, accessible and easy to use. Sun’s invention of java allows me to browse the internet in a simple and entertaining way, and its purchase by Oracle proved to make these systems far more publically available. Overall, Sun Microsystems and Oracle have been a fantastic achievement in the world of technology.

References

• Tillman, K 2009, Oracle Buys Sun, Oracle Press Release, viewed 13 October 2011.

http://oracle.com/us/corporate/press/018363

• Group, O 2010, What is Unix, Unix Open Group, viewed 13 October 2011.

http://unix.org/what_is_unix.html

• Shankland, S 2010, Oracle buys Sun, becomes hardware company, viewed 11 October 2011.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20000019-264.html

• FundingUniverse, 2010, Sun Microsystems, Inc., viewed 11 October 2011.

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Sun-Microsystems-Inc-company-History.html

• Singlesource, 2009, Sun Microsystems, Unix, viewed 10 October 2011.

http://www.singlesource.co.uk/SUN/index.htm