In a move aimed squarely at Microsoft Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc. unveiled on Tuesday a suite of software for businesses that want to dump the Windows operating system on their companies' desktop computers. The Sun Java Desktop system, which was formerly code-named Mad Hatter, runs on the open-source Linux operating system and includes a variety of programs that replace Microsoft's Internet browser, productivity suite and other parts of the Windows package. Sun officials say its system will cost as little as $50 per user per year and can be installed on any computer that can run Microsoft's Office 2000. The software also is designed to interoperate with Windows-based programs such as Exchange and Microsoft Office. "We're talking about a radical savings -- more than 75 percent over just the comparable upgrade cost for Microsoft," said Larry Singer, Sun's senior vice president of global market strategies. Sun also announced a major upgrade to its StarOffice productivity suite. Sun's Larry Singer said it would work better than previous versions with Microsoft's competing Office suite.The software, formerly called Project Orion, has been officially named Java Enterprise System. It's priced at $100 per employee per year. "It's kind of taking a page out of Microsoft's books," Singer said. "We are for the first time introducing a suite of products that have greater value as the sum of the parts than the parts themselves." More info and nice pics over at: www.sun.com