mirror of https://github.com/tLDP/LDP
1205 lines
47 KiB
XML
1205 lines
47 KiB
XML
<sect1 id="WhatIsChapter">
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<title>What is a <productname>JavaStation</productname>?</title>
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<para>
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This chapter explains to the reader what the <productname>JavaStation
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</productname> line is, its components, <acronym>NC</acronym> concepts,
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how to get one, and why one would choose the <application>Linux
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<acronym>OS</acronym></application> for it.
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</para>
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<sect2 id="WhatIsJavaStationSection">
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<title>What is a <productname>JavaStation</productname> <acronym>NC</acronym>?
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</title>
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<para>
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The <productname>JavaStation</productname> <acronym>NC</acronym> is a
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model line of network computers built and sold by
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<ulink url="http://www.sun.com">Sun Microsystems</ulink> between
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November 1996 and March 2000. The <productname>JavaStation</productname>
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line was Sun's low-cost terminal option during that timeframe. It
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was the marketed successor to the Xterminal 1 and is succeeeded by the
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SunRay, although all three machines are fundamentally different.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <productname>JavaStation</productname> hardware ran Sun's
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own <application>JavaOS</application> and either Sun's <application>
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Hotjava</application> web browser, Sun's <application>HotJava Views
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</application> task-manager software, or custom <application>Java
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</application> applications of the customer's choice.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <productname>JavaStation</productname> was originally billed in
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November 1996 sneak previews as a low-cost desktop terminal,
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providing customers access to hot new <application>Java</application>
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applications, <quote>legacy</quote> <application>X</application> applications,
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and <quote>legacy</quote> <application>MS Windows</application> apps.
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During its lifetime, The <productname>JavaStation</productname>'s marketed
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functionality was changed twice from <quote>desktop terminal</quote> to
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<quote>single-app desktop device</quote> to finally a <quote>browser-based
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kiosk device</quote>.
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</para>
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<para>
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At no time did Sun market the <productname>JavaStation</productname> as
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capable of running its flagship
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<ulink url="http://www.sun.com/solaris">Solaris</ulink> operating system
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the <ulink url="http://www.linux.com">Linux OS</ulink>, or any other
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OS than Sun's JavaOS.
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</para>
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</sect2>
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<sect2 id="WhatIsNCSection">
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<title>Definition of an <acronym>NC</acronym> including the Differentiation
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from <acronym>PC</acronym>'s</title>
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<para>
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A network computer, or <acronym>NC</acronym>, was hailed as
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"the next big thing" in computing from late 1995 to early 1998.
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Conventional <acronym>PC</acronym>'s, called "fat clients", were
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expected to be minimized in businesses by thin-client
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<acronym>NC</acronym>'s.
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</para>
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<para>
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Thin-clients get their <acronym>OS</acronym>, applications, and data
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files entirely through the network. They are different from
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dumb-terminals; they run full-scale graphical applications.
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Thin-clients are also different than graphical X-terminals.
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X-terminals typically run an X server and display the client programs of
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a remote server. Thin clients generally run full-scale graphical
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programs locally, such as a web browser, a <application>Java</application>
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application, or a <quote>legacy-connectivity program</quote>, which enables
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the thin-client to display <application>X</application> apps or
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<application>MS Windows</application> apps which run on more
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powerful servers.
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</para>
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<para>
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Advantages of <acronym>NC</acronym>'s include:
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</para>
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<itemizedlist>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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<quote>Zero-Administration</quote>. (Add a new <acronym>NC</acronym> and
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it will get <emphasis>everything</emphasis> it needs off the network,
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without an admin ever needing to visit it.)
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Lower Total-Cost-of-Ownership (<acronym>TCO</acronym>) (No internal
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hard drives, floppy drives or <acronym>CD</acronym> players reduces
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form-factor, repair expenses, selling price and thus total-cost-of-ownership.)
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Access to all web-based apps as well as <quote>legacy</quote> <application>X
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</application> and <application>MS Windows</application> apps.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Quick upgrades (just upgrade your server and the changes propogate throughout)
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Longer lifespan (just upgrade the software, growing hard disk and memory
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requirements is not an issue)
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Smaller <acronym>OS</acronym> footprint (when running brower-based apps)
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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<para>
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Disadvantages of <acronym>NC</acronym>'s:
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</para>
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<itemizedlist>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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No local access to data files (all your files stored on a remote server)
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Requires fast, stable networks
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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NC's generally have a low maximum amount of memory. Though not as bad
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as with fat-clients, this does eventually become a liability for the
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thin-client.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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</sect2>
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<sect2 id="JavaStationModelsSection">
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<title>Description of the <productname>JavaStation</productname> Model
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Line including Hardware Specs</title>
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<para>
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Depending on who you talk to, the number of <productname>JavaStation
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</productname> models that were created is anywhere from one to six.
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The descriptions below will explain why.
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</para>
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<sect3 id="MrCoffeeDescSection">
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<title>
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<productname>JavaStation-1</productname> [ <quote>Mr. Coffee</quote>]
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[<quote>the brick</quote>] [Sun Option No. JJ-xx]
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</title>
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<para>
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This model is the most prevalent <productname>JavaStation</productname> model
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you are likely to find, although it wasn't the one and only
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<emphasis><productname>JavaStation</productname></emphasis> model Sun wished
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to sell to the public. The <productname>JavaStation-1</productname> was the
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first generation <productname>JavaStation</productname>, released in
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November 1996 to pilot deployments as Sun's <quote>proof of concept</quote>
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of the Java <acronym>NC</acronym> design.
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</para>
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<para>
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Hardware-wise, the <productname>JavaStation-1</productname> is a
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Sun4M architecture machine. It is based on the <productname>SPARCStation-4
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</productname> design, with some deletions and <acronym>PC</acronym>-like
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modifications. It is powered by a <hardware>110 Mhz MicroSPARC IIe
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CPU</hardware> and has no <hardware>SCSI</hardware>, <hardware>internal disks
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</hardware>, <hardware>floppy</hardware>, <hardware>CD</hardware> or
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<hardware>expansion slots</hardware>. The <productname>Mr. Coffee
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</productname> <hardware>motherboard</hardware> is Sun Part
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No. <productnumber>501-3141</productnumber>.
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</para>
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<para>
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Instead of using the Sun-type <hardware>keyboard</hardware> and
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<hardware>mice</hardware>, <productname>JavaStation-1</productname>
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uses <acronym>PC</acronym>-like <hardware>PS2</hardware> parts instead.
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One of the original marketing highlights of the <productname>JavaStation
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</productname> was that it would use standard <acronym>PC</acronym> parts
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wherever possible to keep overall price down.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <quote>brick</quote> has four <hardware>PC-like SIMM</hardware>
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slots. The <hardware>SIMMs</hardware> taken are industry-standard
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60ns, 32-bit, 72-pin, 5V fast page <hardware>SIMMs</hardware>,
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installed in pairs. Each slot is capable of holding up to a
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<hardware>16MB SIMM</hardware>, bringing the maximum total capacity
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of the unit to 64MB. The <quote>xx</quote> in the Sun Option# of the
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unit indicated how much memory the unit shipped with.
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</para>
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<para>
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For video display, the <productname>JavaStation-1</productname> utilizes
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the <hardware>Sun TCX framebuffer</hardware>, capable of 1024x768@70Hz in
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8-bit color. The port connector however, is a <hardware>standard VGA jack
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</hardware>, enabling the user to use standard <acronym>PC</acronym>
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<hardware>monitors</hardware> if desired (again, low cost in mind).
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The <hardware>on-board audio</hardware> is a <hardware>Crystal CS4231 chip
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</hardware>, and the network interface is the <hardware>Sun Lance</hardware>
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10Mbps interface. In addition, the <quote>brick</quote> also came with
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a <hardware>9-pin serial port</hardware> and <hardware>1/8" audio out jack
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</hardware> on its back.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <productname>JavaStation-1</productname> was fitted into the Sun
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<quote>unidisk</quote> form factor case, and has been seen in a number
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of color schemes. <productname>JavaStations</productname> have been
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fitted with casings in the white with light blue trim scheme used in
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<hardware>Sun workstations</hardware>, as well as the dark blue-grey
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<quote>new desktop</quote> scheme. Some say <quote>JavaStation</quote>
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and have the Java coffee cup logo written on it, others do not.
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Collectors may wish to collect all case variations.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <productname>JavaStation-1</productname> was used in early
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Sun demos, and sold to pilot sites. When first brought out, the
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cost to pilot sites was $699US. This was at a time when <acronym>PC
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</acronym>'s were still higher than $1000US. By the end of the pilot
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run, Sun was selling any remaining or used units for $299-$399US, in
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anticipation for its <quote>real</quote> <productname>JavaStation
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</productname> model.
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</para>
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<para>
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See the <productname>JavaStation-1</productname> at:
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<ulink
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url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/mr_coffee_front_view.jpg">
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http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/mr_coffee_front_view.jpg
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</ulink>
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</para>
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</sect3>
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<sect3 id="KrupsDescSection">
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<title>
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<productname>JavaStation-<acronym>NC</acronym></productname> [<quote>
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<productname>JavaStation-10</productname></quote>] [<quote>
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<productname>Krups</productname></quote>] [<quote><productname>the tower</productname></quote>]
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[<quote><productname>the percolator</productname></quote>] [
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Sun Option No. JK-xx]
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</title>
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<para>
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This model is the second most prevalent <productname>JavaStation</productname>
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model you are likely to find. When you talk to industry people about the
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<quote>JavaStation</quote>, this is typically the model remembered first.
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Delayed numerous times, the <productname>Krups</productname> model
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officially went on sale to the general public Mar. 26, 1998 at the annual
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JavaOne conference.
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</para>
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<para>
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Though generation two of the <productname>JavaStation</productname> line, the
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<productname>Krups</productname> model was <emphasis>the JavaStation</emphasis>
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. Sporting a completely different board design than <productname>JavaStation-1
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</productname>, <productname>Krups</productname> establishes what was to be
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the characteristic <productname>JavaStation</productname> architecture.
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</para>
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<para>
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<productname>Krups</productname> is powered by a
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<hardware>100Mhz MicroSPARC IIep</hardware> chip, (note the 'p').
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Its mainboard had the internal addition of a <hardware>PCI bus</hardware>,
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about a year before this standard bus made its well-publicized
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appearance on the <productname>Sun Ultra</productname> workstation
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line. The <productname>Krups</productname> <hardware>motherboard</hardware>
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is Sun Part no. <productnumber>501-4267</productnumber>.
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</para>
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<para>
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<productname>Krups</productname> keeps the <hardware>PS2 keyboard</hardware>
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and <hardware>PS2 mouse ports</hardware> from <productname>JavaStation-1
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</productname>, keeping in mind the low-cost, interoperable goal of
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generation 1.
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</para>
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<para>
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With the new board design, came new memory chip sockets. Instead of
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<hardware>SIMMs</hardware>, the <quote>tower</quote> moved to <hardware>
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168-pin DIMMs</hardware>. <hardware>DIMMs</hardware> had begun to make
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their way from the workstation realm to <acronym>PC</acronym>'s in the
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time between generations one and two of the <productname>JavaStation
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</productname> line, so it was fitting for Sun to switch to
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it in anticipation of their status low-cost commodity memory chips. The
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<hardware>DIMMs</hardware> accepted by the <quote>tower</quote> are
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<hardware>168pin, 3.3V unbuffered EDO DIMMs (not SDRAM)</hardware>. With
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two sockets capable of holding a <hardware>32MB DIMM</hardware> each, the
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<productname>Krups</productname> has a maximum capacity of 64<acronym>MB
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</acronym> <acronym>RAM</acronym>. As with the <productname>JavaStation-1
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</productname>, the number <quote>xx</quote> in the Sun option number
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refers to the amount of memory shipped with the unit.
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</para>
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<para>
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For video display, the <productname>JavaStation-NC</productname> utilizes
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the <hardware>PCI-based IGS C1682 framebuffer</hardware>,
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capable of 1280x1024@80Hz in 24-bit <quote>true color</quote>. This
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is a step up from the 8-bit display on <productname>JavaStation-1
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</productname>. The port connector remained a <hardware>standard VGA jack
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</hardware> like <productname>JavaStation-1</productname>, enabling the
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user to use standard <acronym>PC</acronym> monitors if desired.
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The on-board audio remains a <hardware>Crystal
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CS4231 chip</hardware> like <productname>JavaStation-1</productname>.
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The network interface on <productname>Krups</productname> is the
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<hardware>Sun HappyMeal</hardware> 10/100 Mbps interface, another step
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up from the original offering of <productname>JavaStation-1</productname>.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <quote>tower</quote> came with the <hardware>9-pin serial port
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</hardware> and <hardware>1/8" audio out jack</hardware> as
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<productname>JavaStation-1</productname>, but it also added a
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<hardware>1/8" audio-in jack</hardware>, to do sound recording with.
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</para>
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<para>
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Another addition in the <productname>JavaStation-NC</productname> is a
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<hardware>flash memory SIMM</hardware>. This allows one to load the
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current revision of the <acronym>OS</acronym> onboard, increasing
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boot-speed tremendously.
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</para>
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<para>
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Perhaps the thing most memorable about the <productname>JavaStation-NC
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</productname> is its case design. The <productname>Krups</productname>
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comes in an aesthetically appealing casing. The <hardware>mainboard</hardware>
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is mounted vertically, and the shell entraps it, giving it the <quote>tower
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</quote> or <quote>percolator</quote> shape referred to. With the
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streamlined case, the <hardware>power supply</hardware> is moved outside
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to small transformer. The <productname>Krups</productname> unit gives
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off so little heat that there are no onboard cooling fans, making the
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<productname>Krups</productname> a <emphasis>dead-silent</emphasis>
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machine. Imagine the difference in noise when replacing a lab of
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traditional desktops with the <productname>Krups</productname>!
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This case design earned <productname>Krups</productname> a<quote>
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1998 Industrial Design Excellence Award</quote> from the Industrial
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Designers Society of America. This award announcement is still available
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for read at:
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<ulink url="http://www.idsa.org/whatis/seewhat/idea98/winners/javastation.htm">
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http://www.idsa.org/whatis/seewhat/idea98/winners/javastation.htm"
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</ulink>.
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It is also archived locally via "fair use" for future readers at:
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<ulink url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/texts/krups_idsa_award.txt">
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http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/texts/krups_idsa_award.txt"
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</ulink>
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</para>
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<para>
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The <productname>Krups</productname> had an initial base price of $599US,
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$100US cheaper than <productname>Mr. Coffee</productname>'s rollout price.
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Due to it being the only model formally sold by Sun to the general public,
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this is how <productname>Krups</productname> is sometimes referred to as
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the only <productname>JavaStation</productname>, and not one model of a
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product line.
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</para>
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<para>
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See the <productname>JavaStation-NC</productname> at:
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<ulink
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url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/krups_front_view.jpg">
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http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/krups_front_view.jpg
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</ulink>
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</para>
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</sect3>
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<sect3 id="EspressoDescSection">
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<title>
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<productname>JavaStation-E</productname> [<quote>Espresso</quote>]
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[Sun Option No. JE-xx]
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</title>
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<para>
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This model is extremely rare to find. It was never available for
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sale in quantities to either the general public or the initial
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<productname>JavaStation</productname> deployments, limiting the
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model's production quantity. To call this <quote>Generation
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Three</quote> of the <productname>JavaStation</productname>
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may be improper, as <productname>Espresso</productname> is nothing like
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the generation three <productname>JavaStation</productname> written about
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in early Sun marketing literature.
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</para>
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<para>
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The <productname>Espresso</productname> was designed as an extension of
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the <productname>Krups</productname>. It was geared to sites that
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wanted a little bit more functionality and expansion capability from
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their <productname>JavaStations</productname>: a cross between an
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<acronym>NC</acronym> and a workstation.
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</para>
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<para>
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<productname>Espresso</productname> is powered by the same
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<hardware>110Mhz MicroSPARC IIep chip</hardware> as <productname>Krups
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</productname>. It's mainboard is similar to <productname>Krups</productname>,
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with the addition of <hardware>PCI slots</hardware> and an <hardware>IDE
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channel</hardware> for local hard disks. The <hardware>IDE</hardware> on
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<productname>Espresso</productname> was not enabled in the demo units.
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Those who have tried to make it work have concluded the wiring is incorrect,
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and it requires a hardware rework to get going.
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</para>
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<para>
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<productname>Espresso</productname> continues with the <hardware>PS2 keyboard
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</hardware> and <hardware>PS2 mouse ports</hardware> from <productname>
|
|
Mr. Coffee</productname> and <productname>Krups</productname>.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
<productname>Espresso</productname> uses the same <hardware>168-pin,
|
|
3.3V unbuffered EDO DIMMs</hardware> as <productname>Krups</productname>.
|
|
The maximum amount of memory for Espresso is reported to be 96MB.
|
|
As with the <productname>Mr. Coffee</productname> and <productname>Krups
|
|
</productname>, the number <quote>xx</quote> in the Sun option number
|
|
refers to the amount of memory shipped with the unit.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
For video display, the <productname>Espresso</productname> uses the
|
|
<hardware>PCI-based IGS C2000 framebuffer</hardware>, along with the same
|
|
standard <hardware>VGA port connector</hardware> as <productname>Krups
|
|
</productname> and <productname>Mr. Coffee</productname>. The
|
|
on-board audio remains a <hardware>Crystal CS4231 chip</hardware> like
|
|
<productname>Krups</productname>, and the network interface remains a
|
|
<hardware>Sun HappyMeal</hardware> 10/100 Mbps interface like
|
|
<productname>Krups</productname> as well.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
<productname>Espresso</productname> came with the <hardware>9-pin serial
|
|
port</hardware> and <hardware>1/8" audio out</hardware> and
|
|
<hardware>1/8" audio in</hardware> jacks of <productname>Krups</productname>,
|
|
and a new addition of a <hardware>parallel port</hardware>, and a second
|
|
9-pin serial port. <productname> Espresso</productname> also comes
|
|
with the <hardware>flash memory</hardware> to load your <acronym>OS</acronym>
|
|
on and bypass the network boot cycle.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
One new addition to the <productname>Espresso</productname> is a
|
|
<hardware>smart card slot</hardware>.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The <productname>Espresso</productname> comes in a <quote>pizza box</quote>
|
|
style case like the old <productname>Sun SparcStations</productname>, only
|
|
a little taller, and not quite as wide.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The <productname>Espresso</productname> was never sold to the public. There
|
|
was an internal testing period at Sun, but the units never went into
|
|
mass-production.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
One <productname>Espresso</productname> user mentioned he now uses
|
|
his unit as both a server and router, with the addition of an
|
|
<hardware>IDE disk</hardware> and <hardware>3C905 ethernet card</hardware>,
|
|
demonstrating the expandability of this unit.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
See the <productname>JavaStation-E</productname> at:
|
|
<ulink
|
|
url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/espresso_front_view.jpg">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/espresso_front_view.jpg
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="JavaEngineDescSection">
|
|
<title>
|
|
<productname>JavaEngine-1</productname> [<quote>JE-1</quote>]
|
|
</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Like the <productname>Espresso</productname>, this unit is also an extremely
|
|
rare find.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
This unit is supposed to be of similar board design to the Krups, but in
|
|
an ATX form factor, with soldered onboard flash memory, and with a
|
|
regular SVGA video chipset.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Gleb Raiko <email>raiko@niisi.msk.ru)</email> with the help of
|
|
Vladimir Roganov <email>roganov@niisi.msk.ru</email> did initial
|
|
the Linux kernel support on <quote>JE-1</quote>. Pete Zaitcev
|
|
<email>zaitcev@yahoo.com</email> later obtained a <quote>JE-1</quote>
|
|
unit and restored full support in <application>Linux kernel 2.3.x+
|
|
</application>.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
As the author of this document has never seen a <quote>JE-1</quote>,
|
|
submissions from the public are welcome.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
See the <productname>JavaEngine-1</productname> at:
|
|
<ulink
|
|
url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/je1_overhead_view.jpg">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/je1_overhead_view.jpg
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="DoverDescSection">
|
|
<title>
|
|
The <quote>Dover</quote> <productname>JavaStation</productname> model
|
|
</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
This is another box which does not exist officially outside of Sun.
|
|
Little was known of it at the first revision of this HOWTO. Since then,
|
|
proud owners have stepped forward. Basically, the Dover takes the Espresso
|
|
theme and moves it to stock X86 parts.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Dover comes in a case similar to the Espresso, but there's nothing where
|
|
the 'JavaStation-E' tag would be. Dover can be situated in a vertical
|
|
position by removable feet. All that is printed on the case is "Sun
|
|
MicroSystems 1998", and typically a serial number sticker of '12345678'
|
|
and 'Made in Taiwan'.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The motherboard is 'baby ATX' in configuration, but not
|
|
quite totally. Near the front of the case is a fan that points
|
|
at the CPU heat sink. The CPU heat sink has another fan on top of it.
|
|
The motherboard has a Socket 7 CPU socket that houses a Cyrix MediaGCm-266GP
|
|
CPU. There are typical PC motherboard jumpers with silk-screened legends
|
|
for setting both clock speed and multiplier. The motherboard accepts
|
|
a PC100 DIMM (max. size unknown) and a powersupply with AT-type power
|
|
connectors. Included among them are two floppy and regular hard
|
|
drive type plug. There are two small jumpers going to the motherboard,
|
|
JPSB1 and JAUTO1, possibly for power management.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Expansion in Dover is via a two-card riser, with one PCI and one shared
|
|
PCI/ISA slot. As mentioned earlier, the motherboard deviates slightly from
|
|
standard ATX. Along the back edge under the cards are
|
|
connectors for audio out, audio in, mic, HD15F video, two USB ports,
|
|
D25F parallel printer, stacked PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports, and four
|
|
9-pin serial ports, marked A through D. Unlike other JavaStation models,
|
|
there is no on-board ethernet. Instead, it typically is provided by a
|
|
supplied 3COM 3C905B-TX Fast Etherlink XL PCI card (with a wake-on-LAN
|
|
cable going to the motherboard). There is a standard Sun MAC address
|
|
label on the back of the case.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Video is via a Cyrix CX5530 chip, but with the MediaGX chip, may be
|
|
just an auxilliary chip. There exist both a FDD and HDD headers on the
|
|
motherboard, but nowhere to mount a FDD in the case and no provision
|
|
for an HDD bracket either. There is a simple piezo buzzer mounted to
|
|
the motherboard and additionally a speaker with a cable leading back
|
|
near the audio out jacks. Like the Espresso, there is a smart-card
|
|
reader as well, and what looks like a compact-flash socket inside.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
When booting it up, you get a blue JS screen. Under the
|
|
exclamation point, are two memory card icons and a <...>
|
|
icon. It reads:
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<screen>
|
|
Boot device: /ethernet Arguments:
|
|
MAC Address: 08:00:20:95:5b:49
|
|
Open Boot 3.0, Built February 16, 1999 17:38:37
|
|
NIC: 10b7,9055 ethernet in PCI1 64MB SDRAM
|
|
Non-Volatile Device Memory Module Not Installed
|
|
SmartCard Reader Found
|
|
CPU Speed: 266 MHz
|
|
|
|
|
|
Can't open boot device
|
|
|
|
ok
|
|
</screen>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The Dover model, since it is based on an x86 chip, is supported by Linux.
|
|
This HOWTO however focuses on the SPARC-based JavaStations, so the procedures
|
|
presented here <emphasis>will not work</emphasis> with it. However,
|
|
there's plenty of x86 documentation at large to work from.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
See the <productname>Dover</productname> at:
|
|
<ulink
|
|
url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/dover_inside.jpg">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/dover_inside.jpg
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="GenerationThreeDescSection">
|
|
<title>
|
|
The Generation 3 <quote>Super JavaStation</quote>
|
|
</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Sun originally envisioned three generation models of the <productname>
|
|
JavaStation</productname>: <productname>Mr. Coffee</productname>, the
|
|
<productname>Krups</productname>, and the <quote>Super JavaStation</quote>.
|
|
Generation Three was billed in early literature as going to be the fastest
|
|
<productname>JavaStation</productname> offered, with a high-speed
|
|
<hardware>CPU</hardware> and a <hardware>JavaChip co-processor</hardware>
|
|
to translate <application>Java-bytecode</application> in hardware.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
All indications are that it never got beyond the mental stage,
|
|
and was more of a marketing myth than anything else.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
First, consider that the cost of higher performance <acronym>CPU</acronym>
|
|
as a factor. If Sun packaged a high-performance <acronym>CPU</acronym> into
|
|
a <productname>JavaStation</productname>, the low-cost advantage of an
|
|
<acronym>NC</acronym> goes away.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Next, Sun did have their <hardware>PicoJava chip</hardware> available to
|
|
decode <application>Java bytecode</application>, but rumor is the performance
|
|
was not as good as expected, and the complete <hardware>JavaChip</hardware>
|
|
project was shelved in the Summer of 1998, not long after <productname>Krups
|
|
</productname> was formally released.
|
|
<!-- <Comment>ed note: verify date.</Comment> -->
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The <quote>Dover</quote> project was being worked on, but the <quote>Corona
|
|
</quote> project, which would go on to become the <productname>Sun Ray
|
|
</productname>, was the final nail in the <productname>JavaStation</productname>
|
|
's coffin.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
So all indications are that this model is a piece of <quote>vaporware</quote>.
|
|
It is included here though, for the sake of completeness.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="JavaStationProtoDescSection">
|
|
<title>
|
|
The Pre-Mr. Coffee JavaStation Prototype
|
|
</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
After the original publishing of this HOWTO, word of one more
|
|
"JavaStation" model surfaced. John Bodo, a reseller
|
|
of JavaStation equipment, chimed in that he has a motherboard of a
|
|
pre-JavaStation machine. It was made by Diba Corporation, which was
|
|
later bought out by Sun. The unit was released as an early embededded
|
|
Java platform that developers could use to build embedded Java machines.
|
|
It has a Motorola 68030 CPU, 14.4k bps modem, ethernet interface,
|
|
standard VGA interface and even a TV output. The prototype's date is
|
|
circa 1996.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
See the <productname>JavaStation Prototype</productname> at:
|
|
<ulink
|
|
url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/pre_js_1.jpg">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/pre_js_1.jpg
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
<sect3 id="JavaStationFoxDescSection">
|
|
<title>
|
|
The Pre-Mr. Coffee JavaStation/Fox
|
|
</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
After receiving word of the JavaStation prototype from Diba, yet
|
|
more information has come regarding another pre-Mr. Coffee model.
|
|
This one though, has a greater known history we can share here.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
This model was the JavaStation development box used by the developers
|
|
of early JavaStation software. Basically it was a SS4/110 in a smaller,
|
|
custom case similar to the Mr. Coffee enclosure, with more squarish profile.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The case has an off-white color with lateral stripe in Sun gray. It
|
|
sits like a Mr. Coffee would on its side. The front was a 1/2 cyclinder i
|
|
design in Sun gray, has the Sun Logo, the word "Sun" under that, and the
|
|
Java cup logo at the bottom.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
When booting up it claims to be a "JavaStation/Fox". The motherboard
|
|
does not have a normal Sun part number. The CPU is a microSPARC-II running
|
|
at 110MHz. The box has an onboard external SCSI connector,
|
|
dual A and B serial ports, audio in and out sound ports (Crystal
|
|
Semiconductor 4231,
|
|
lance ethernet network interface, onboard PCMCIA (stp4020), one SBUS expansion
|
|
slot, one AFXbus expansion slot, 2 72-pin SIMM slots (double-banked SIMMs
|
|
only), and no on-board video. One would then add their own S-Bus frame
|
|
buffer, or the 24-bit frame buffer from a ss5. Also, an optional internal
|
|
SCSI laptop hard drive could be put in.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The motherboard's part number is 501-2785. The CPU is dated 1995 while the
|
|
NCR chips are dated 1994, establishing the time frame of the Fox.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The NetBSD/SPARC FAQ has a few more words on the Fox at:
|
|
<ulink
|
|
url="http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/sparc/faq.html#fox">
|
|
http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/sparc/faq.html#fox
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
See the <productname>JavaStation/Fox</productname> at:
|
|
<ulink
|
|
url="http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/fox_face.jpg">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/photos/fox_face.jpg
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="WhyLinuxSection">
|
|
<title>Reasons for Running <application>Linux</application> and <acronym>NC
|
|
</acronym> Myths Dispelled</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
It turns out that <application>Linux</application> makes the
|
|
<productname>JavaStations</productname> perform more than adequately
|
|
on the desktop. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Linux
|
|
developer community, the <productname>JavaStations</productname>
|
|
offer users the low-cost, zero-admin, versatile desktop
|
|
<acronym>NC</acronym>'s they were originally billed to be, but with
|
|
the added freedom granted by the <application>Linux OS</application>.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
While low-cost <acronym>PC</acronym>'s now eclipse the <productname>JavaStation
|
|
</productname> in terms of default CPU speed and RAM size, the
|
|
<productname>JavaStations</productname> running <application>Linux</application> are still well-suited for a number of tasks:
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<itemizedlist>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
Diskless X-Terminal. (Gives the <productname>JavaStations</productname> the
|
|
capability of the <productname>Sun Xterminal 1</productname> hardware that
|
|
they replaced).
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
The <acronym>NC</acronym> solution, Linux-style: local X + a java-capable
|
|
browser can make the <productname>JavaStations</productname>
|
|
perform like they did with <application>JavaOS</application>/<application>
|
|
HotJava</application>, only <emphasis>many</emphasis> times faster.
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
A beowulf node, or a dedicated <application>RC5</application>/<application>
|
|
SETI@HOME</application> client. The <productname>JavaStation</productname>
|
|
running <application>Linux</application> makes a stable, long-lasting
|
|
number cruncher.
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
A small, standalone machine. While a task more suited on today's
|
|
low-cost machines, there's not much that prevents the <productname>
|
|
JavaStation</productname> from performing as a full-fleged
|
|
standalone <application>UNIX</application> machine by itself.
|
|
Just remember to set your expectations appropriately when doing so;
|
|
they were <quote>low-budget</quote> clients when they were sold, and
|
|
should not be directly compared to today's workstation offerings.
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
|
|
<listitem>
|
|
<para>
|
|
A small router and server, particularly with the <productname>Espresso
|
|
</productname> model decked out with added IDE disks and NIC.
|
|
</para>
|
|
</listitem>
|
|
</itemizedlist>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
In all of the above scenarios, there is little to no maintenance of
|
|
the machine once configured properly. Such is the advantage of the
|
|
<acronym>NC</acronym> hardware.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
<productname>JavaStations</productname> run so much better with
|
|
<application>Linux</application> than <application>JavaOS</application>,
|
|
one would think that even Sun should have offered it as an option.
|
|
Unfortunately, Sun had killed the line in favor of the <productname>Sun Ray
|
|
</productname>. While the performance of the <productname>Sun Ray
|
|
</productname> is good, keep in mind it is not intended as a dedicated
|
|
computing device, and due to its firmware is little more than a graphics
|
|
display hanging off your Sun server, which can give you some unexpected
|
|
bonus features (translation: <quote>brand-name product lock</quote>).
|
|
The performance on
|
|
the <productname>JavaStations</productname> with <application>Linux
|
|
</application> will be similar to what you can get with a <productname>Sun
|
|
Ray</productname>, but if ever you want to do something different with
|
|
your machines, you have the flexibility to do so with the
|
|
<productname>JavaStations</productname>. There was rumor of work to try
|
|
and override the default behavior of the SunRay firmware, and make
|
|
it into an adjustable computing device, but until that happens, running
|
|
another OS on a SunRay is just a pipe-dream.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Lastly, if you're thinking of switching to <hardware>diskless Xterminals
|
|
</hardware> on your network, you might consider the <productname>JavaStations
|
|
</productname> over stripped down <acronym>PC</acronym>'s. The hardware
|
|
is standardized, smaller, and you do not need to worry about burning boot
|
|
<acronym>PROM</acronym>s and the like.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="JavaStationDeathSection">
|
|
<title>Why <productname>JavaStations</productname> are No Longer
|
|
Produced</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Sun's official stance is that the <productname>JavaStation</productname>
|
|
line was terminated in favor of the new <productname>Sun Ray</productname>
|
|
line. A trip to the former <productname>JavaStation</productname>
|
|
section of Sun's website at <ulink url="http://www.sun.com/javastation">
|
|
http://www.sun.com/javastation</ulink> verifies this formal positioning.
|
|
(fair use archival copy at:
|
|
<ulink url=
|
|
"http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/texts/sun_js_site_death.txt">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/texts/sun_js_site_death.txt
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
)
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
As the <productname>Sun Ray</productname> is not an <acronym>NC</acronym>
|
|
in the traditional sense (it has a MicroSparc IIep CPU, but the firmware
|
|
on the device prevents anyone from grasping it), there is no explanation why
|
|
the two products could not co-exist.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
In talking to the users of the <productname>JavaStations</productname>
|
|
in the pre-Linux era, you will find strong opinions as to why
|
|
the <productname>JavaStations</productname> are no more. The common
|
|
thread in almost all opinions collected is that the software provided
|
|
by Sun was inadequete for a production environment. Here are
|
|
collected opinions from users of the Sun-provided software, included
|
|
with their permission:
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<blockquote>
|
|
<attribution>Dr. Alex Ryba, Former Professor at Marquette University (Quoted March 2000)
|
|
</attribution>
|
|
<para>
|
|
I only used the Java Stations last summer while teaching 51 and 55/154.
|
|
GoJoe was incredibly slow and I seem to remember having to login to several
|
|
different screens and browsers just to be able to start anything.
|
|
</para>
|
|
<para>
|
|
I had to apologize to my students for the slow and inconvenient
|
|
machines --- I remember making some jokes about technological progress.
|
|
</para>
|
|
</blockquote>
|
|
|
|
<para></para> <!--Be sure there's space -->
|
|
|
|
<blockquote>
|
|
<attribution>Dr. Mark Barnard, Professor at Marquette University (Quoted March 2000)
|
|
<email>markb@mscs.mu.edu</email>
|
|
</attribution>
|
|
<para>
|
|
Well, of course the old JavaStations were practically
|
|
unusable. It's not a matter of just my opinion; we used to
|
|
have CU 310 full of students using the Xterms all the time.
|
|
As soon as the JavaStations appeared there were NO STUDENTS
|
|
in there at all. The JavaStations killed CU 310. Now that
|
|
the JavaStations are (thanks to you) back up to speed,
|
|
students are beginning to come back, but they've gotten out
|
|
of the habit of working in our lab, and are used to working
|
|
on their own in the dorms. I think this is a big loss --
|
|
they don't learn anything from talking to each other in the
|
|
labs anymore.
|
|
</para>
|
|
<para>
|
|
Ghostview was slow, etc, but even vi was too slow. I am
|
|
used to typing quickly, and when the cursor can't keep up
|
|
with me, I can't handle it. I would also have worked at home
|
|
if I didn't have to be here. And there were those annoying
|
|
red squares left all over the Xterm window when you were in
|
|
vi. I had to type ^L every few lines to get rid of them to
|
|
see what I was typing... The pits. The whole setup made
|
|
me lose a lot of respect for Sun (although I try to separate
|
|
the different product lines as much as possible); I also
|
|
think Sun will not get respect for hyping a product like the
|
|
JavaStation so strongly, and then just dumping it. I would
|
|
wonder why anyone would not just dump Sun...
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
BTW, the JavaStations, now that they are fast, are quite fine.
|
|
I really like mine, and don't see why they aren't a viable
|
|
product.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</blockquote>
|
|
|
|
<para></para> <!--Be sure there's space -->
|
|
|
|
<blockquote>
|
|
<attribution>Robert Dubinski, former Computer Systems Technician at Marquette
|
|
University (Quoted March 2000)
|
|
<email>rsd@dubinski-family.org</email>
|
|
</attribution>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
I believe that it was the triple combination of Sun's JavaOS, the
|
|
Hotjava software, and GraphOn's GoJoe X-connectivity software which
|
|
ultimately doomed the JavaStation line.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
JavaOS was always sluggish in performance for us. It was rated as
|
|
having one of the slowest Java VMs by a ZDNet Online Magazane review at
|
|
<ulink url="http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/javaguide/jfgr10.htm">
|
|
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/javaguide/hfgr10.htm</ulink>
|
|
. I speculate this was the main cause of delaying the
|
|
JavaStation's formal public release to April 1998.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
(fair use archive copy of the PC mag review at:
|
|
<ulink url=
|
|
"http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/texts/pcmag_js_jvm_review.txt">
|
|
http://dubinski-family.org/~jshowto/Files/texts/pcmag_js_jvm_review.txt
|
|
</ulink>
|
|
)
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
JavaOS also always lagged behind the current Java developer
|
|
spec (ie running Java 1.0 when Java 1.1 was prevalent, and Java 1.1
|
|
when Java 1.2 was issued). It was tough explaining to students why
|
|
the books they were buying were all using the new event-model of Java 1.1,
|
|
but they could not program to it and have it run on <quote>the Java machine
|
|
</quote>. There were also some implementation problems with some of the
|
|
AWT peers which sometimes made programming across platforms difficult.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
These performance and implementation problems were never addressed in
|
|
subsequent build of JavaOS for the duration we ran it. I believe the
|
|
last edition we had used a Java 1.1.4 runtime, when we had a Java 1.2
|
|
development kit on the server.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The HotJava browser software suffered from not being able to handle
|
|
web standards HTML4, cascading style-sheets, or the ECMA javascript.
|
|
All of these standards were employed in commercial sites at the time,
|
|
resulting in many sites that weren't viewable by the JavaStations.
|
|
The Hotjava Browser engine also had serious printing problems with
|
|
certain webpages, some of which appeared on Sun's own website!
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The HotJava Views task selector software also was rough. Users could have
|
|
multiple apps running, but only one displayed at a time. Manipulation
|
|
of multiple window panes was difficult (no minimization, no quick list to
|
|
all apps, resizing not always possible). Flexibility users had grown
|
|
accustomed to was tossed out in favor of this task-selector approach.
|
|
On Sun's Java website there was a page boasting of a committee formed
|
|
that decided this was the <quote>right way</quote> to make a desktop.
|
|
Tell that to our users.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The GraphOn Go-Joe software was by far the most damaging piece of software
|
|
to the JavaStation line. This was an X-connectivity software Sun licensed
|
|
from GraphOn to give users access to the Solaris servers' X apps.
|
|
The connectivity worked via a daemon installed on the Solaris server,
|
|
which was connected to by a Java connectivity applet on the NC side. This
|
|
small applet (only about 250K) simply threw up the latest display state
|
|
and sent back to the daemon the mouse and keyboard strokes of the user.
|
|
Unlike Xterminals though, the actual Xserver process was spawned and
|
|
communicated with on the remote server-side by the daemon. Communication
|
|
between the GraphOn client applet and the server daemon was supposedly
|
|
done by a patented protocol to compress communication and speed things up.
|
|
However, the performance of X under Go-Joe was terribly sluggish, with
|
|
horrible refresh rates (10-seconds for some page scroll refreshes).
|
|
Many sites operators I spoke to elected to not run the Go-Joe software
|
|
past a trial period for this reason. We had to run it though, as our
|
|
users were heavily X dependant. Alternatives like Weird/X were not
|
|
available at this time, and VNC proved not up to snuff given the slow
|
|
JavaOS VM.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
This performance in Go-Joe alone was enough to give uninformed users the
|
|
impression that the JavaStation was an underpowered machine, especially
|
|
when placed side-by-side with the low-cost, end-of-lifed Sun Xterminal 1
|
|
hardware it was meant to replace. Our students left labs in droves,
|
|
faculty were upset, and giving demos to outsiders was downright
|
|
embarrassing. In reality the hardware was solid and stable, but
|
|
was hampered by this new, untested OS and new, untested applications
|
|
running on a new, untested hardware architecture. This triple-threat
|
|
combination, and Sun's timeline for fixing the problems is what
|
|
I feel truly doomed the JavaStation.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
I remember that in 1998, Sun publicized that it had rolled out 3000
|
|
of these machines in-house, including one on Scott McNealy's desk.
|
|
One who has used the JavaStations with the Sun software would have
|
|
to wonder whether he ever turned it on and used it solely for a day?
|
|
Had he done so, I'm sure he'd demand things be done differently.
|
|
(update Oct. 2001: many ex-Sun employees who've contacted me say they
|
|
made great doorstops and paper weights.)
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Why Sun never ported and released its tried and tested XTerminal
|
|
software to the JavaStation, or even a mini-Solaris, remained a
|
|
mystery to us the whole time before we switched to Linux. It was
|
|
only after we moved to Linux and the JavaStation line was formally killed
|
|
by Sun when we learned from some inside Sun sources that Solaris
|
|
actually was ported to Mr. Coffee, but released only internally at Sun.
|
|
As a heavily invested customer site who had begged for help, this was
|
|
not only disheartening, but insulting to discover.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Lastly, the customer support we received at the time was horrible. We pled
|
|
our case on more than a few occassions, but requests always seemed to
|
|
fall on deaf ears. Calling up SunSolve for JavaStation help always
|
|
resulted in a transfer to a Java <emphasis>Language</emphasis> engineer.
|
|
If the Sun employees do not know their own products, that's a problem!
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
>From our view, there no doubt was politics involved in this, and as
|
|
customers, we were the ones to bear the results of this.
|
|
We continue using Sun equipment when it comes to the proven models
|
|
like the Enterprise-class servers and disk arrays, but on the
|
|
latest low-cost desktop offerings, we will be forever cautious
|
|
given the JavaStation history.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Linux now proves the JavaStations are adequate machines, and Sun could
|
|
take this bait and go with it. If they sell the JavaStations for $250
|
|
a piece and the JavaStation running a proven OS like Linux (or Solaris)
|
|
with proven apps (X), the JavaStation makes for a great network appliance.
|
|
The recent NetPliance I-Opener Linux hack and subsequent controversy
|
|
proves there certainly is a market for this type of low-cost device.
|
|
(Oct. 2001 addition: After the publishing of the Linux hack, NetPliance made
|
|
their new hardware unhackable, and subsequently ran out of business. The
|
|
demand for cheap diskless stations still exist. Today's hackable units
|
|
are set-top receivers and failed internet toasters like the 3Com Audrey)
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</blockquote>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
More comments and rebuttal statements by Sun employees are always welcome.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
(update Oct 2001): A year and a half of this document's existance and not
|
|
a single rebuttal statement by Sun. There were a couple initial requests
|
|
to omit this section, but I refused. After all, imagine a new reader
|
|
who never saw a JavaStation before: They'd read to this section, think
|
|
"Wow, what a great little machine..let me get one!", and then ask
|
|
themselves, "If it did all this, why don't they make them anymore?".
|
|
The bad must be included with the good, and to leave this section out
|
|
is a disservice to all the users who suffered through the poor software
|
|
and support during the official lifetime of the JavaStation. This section,
|
|
therefore, is a necessity, and although this document is licensed under the
|
|
GNU Free Documentation License, the eagle-eyed reader will note that this
|
|
section has been labeled as "invariant" to protect it from entities
|
|
who may wish to bury it (which is precisely the reason why the Invariant
|
|
clause of the GFDL exists).
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
<sect2 id="WherePurchaseSection">
|
|
<title>Where to Purchase a JavaStation</title>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Since Sun has canceled production of the <productname>JavaStation</productname>
|
|
line, it no longer sells them through their official channels. Sun
|
|
contacts have informed me that all internal JavaStation stock
|
|
was cleaned out and dumped in 2000. Therefore, All JavaStations are
|
|
now found out in the wild.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Your best bet to get <productname>JavaStations</productname> though is
|
|
out on the open market. Educational institutions which received a
|
|
handful from Sun as demo units are now trying to offload them any way
|
|
they can (too bad they don't read this HOWTO). Search around the
|
|
auction sites like Ebay and Yahoo Auctions, and you should be able
|
|
to turn some up.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
A great resource for <productname>JavaStations</productname> used to be
|
|
<quote>Bodoman's JavaStation site</quote> at:
|
|
<ulink url="http://www.bodoman.com/javastation/javastation.html">
|
|
http://www.bodoman.com/javastation/javastation.html</ulink>. Sadly,
|
|
as of October 2001, the domain bodoman.com seems to no longer resolve.
|
|
Ebay may now be your best bet.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Mr. Coffee is the most widespread JavaStation model, and has tended
|
|
to sell around $30-80US consistently for the last year or so.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
Krups models more rare and sell at higher prices, probably because the
|
|
stylish case still stands out today. Prices on Ebay are always over
|
|
$100, but for Oct. 2001, their technology is definitely no longer worth
|
|
that much. A good price would be $80-85US. Many reports have come from
|
|
the UK telling of many Krups models getting dumped there.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The Dover models were a very hush-hush thing when this HOWTO was initially
|
|
published, but the secret is out: if you want one, go to South Africa.
|
|
Dovers seemed to have been dumped there en masse. Pricing is unknown,
|
|
but should be comparable to a Cyrix-266 PC clone.
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
<para>
|
|
The Espresso and JavaEngine models are near impossible to find,
|
|
so if you get one, consider yourself lucky. If you have a Fox,
|
|
well, you're just too cool. Pricing for these models is likely a
|
|
premium. (>$100US).
|
|
</para>
|
|
|
|
</sect2>
|
|
|
|
</sect1>
|
|
|
|
|