So today I look with nostalgia on Sun Microsystems and hope -- probably in vain -- that the company doesn't die.

Honestly, Linux and cheap Intel hardware do not make a scalable server farm by themselves. Sun is building technology that makes linux server farms more manageable. They are in a good position to translate their position with Solaris into a dominate position in the emerging linux based server world, if they continue to provide really good hardware platforms for linux with lots of automated management technology that reduces administration costs. I don't think they really have to worry about Microsoft. Linux is winning server battles. I think they can give HP a run for its money here. I like HP's security technology but I think that automated server management is a more compelling proposition. And Apple? Their server stuff is really really cool, but I wouldn't choose it over linux for anything more involved then a fileserver/intranet application, and they really only hit one market segment. If you need more or less power then what they offer you are out of luck with them. I do, however, think Solaris is dead, along with HP-UX, AIX, and the other UNIX variants. I don't see a compelling reason to run them over Linux or BSD, and they cost money.

However, if Sun puts too much real energy into Solaris it will cost them. Marketing spin in one thing (you want customers to beleive you are committed to the platform) but reality is something else.

no SnApple