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I worked for Sun Microsystems as a placement year. The first time I saw Sun Rays, I couldn't believe it wasn't already used everywhere. We had badges that let u
by mooktakim 2y ago
I worked for Sun Microsystems as a placement year. The first time I saw Sun Rays, I couldn't believe it wasn't already used everywhere. We had badges that let us go from desk to desk, from one building to another, and even to our home, without losing the session.
- twoodfin 2y agoIt was used widely, it was just called Citrix.
- mooktakim 2y agoCitrix was different remote desktop software. The way the sunrays worked was seamless. Thin clients and servers. Alas, that's not needed anymore.
- twoodfin 2y agoCitrix/Terminal Services was certainly worse in the design sense, but from the corporate buyer's perspective (i.e. the only buyer) it was significantly better: They could deploy hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of cheap, disposable PC's as thin clients, while centrally managing everything that mattered. And unlike Sun Rays, they could natively run Windows applications. There's a reason Citrix ended up worth $16.5B when they went private a couple of years ago, they were highly successful propagating the thin client vision that Sun championed but fumbled.
- mooktakim 2y agoI did hear rumours that CIA/NSA used them. It meant no one could steal a computer and take data. Only thin clients everywhere. There were thin client "laptops" too.