Sun Ships SunOS 4.1 On CD

Price Reductions Of More Than 30 Percent On CD-ROM Drives

Will Shift to CD-ROM for Distribution in 1991

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --May 15, 1990-- Sun Microsystems today announced that it is now shipping SunOS(TM) 4.1 on compact disc as an efficient and cost-effective alternative to magnetic tape. To encourage customers to transition to Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) technology, Sun is reducing prices on its SunCD(TM) storage device by more than 30 percent, to $995. Sun will also include a free copy of SunOS 4.1 on CD to new SunCD buyers until August 31, a $300 value. These are the lowest prices in the industry by far for a CD drive bundled with an operating system on CD.

In 1991, Sun plans to convert exclusively to compact disc as the distribution media for all its system and application software. Sun's CD-ROM technology offers software developers and users a low-cost, easy-to-use and reliable solution for installing and distributing software, documentation, images and audio. Each CD stores up to 644 megabytes on a single-sided disc.

Sun is encouraging its independent software vendors (ISVs) to utilize CD-ROM technology for their own software distribution. To support this effort, Sun is offering promotional programs to its ISVs. For example, Sun will bundle SunCD subsystems as part of two SPARCware(TM) Development Kits, now specially priced at a 50 percent discount.

The kits will aid software developers in creating products for the SPARC(TM) / UNIX(R)/OPEN LOOK(TM) platform on CD-ROM. OPEN LOOK is an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical user interface designed by Sun and AT&T.

One of the most compact CD-ROM products on the market, SunCD is available as an external, 5 1/4-inch, half-height package for Sun's desktop systems or as an internally mounted peripheral for Sun's SPARC deskside and server systems. Both versions connect through a standard SCSI interface.

Existing Sun customers upgrading to SunOS 4.1 who purchase SunCD can receive a right-to-use license for $350, half the normal price. This offer is in effect until August 31. SunOS 4.1 CD media contains binaries for the Motorola and SPARC families. The latter can be booted directly from the CD.

The SunCD drive is available for all SPARCstations and SPARCservers. SunCD has been reduced to $995 (U.S. list), from an original $1,500 selling price. SunCD for the SPARCstation 370 and 470, and the SPARCserver 490 will be available in June, while the remaining SunCD subsystems are available now.

Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software.

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SunOS, SunCD, SPARC, SPARCserver, SPARCware and SPARCstation are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. OPEN LOOK is a trademark of AT&T. All other products or services mentioned in this document are identified by the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations.