As open source technology ebbs closer to consumers' desktops, high-performance printing solutions, that are affordable and on par with proprietary printing standards, are needed. Oki Data is leading this initiative by creating a set of customized Postscript Printer Description (PPD) files that are supported by Sun's Java Desktop System, Release 2. Oki Data has outfitted two of its most popular printers, the C7000 and C9000 Series digital color printers, with these files.

Oki's C7000 and C9000 Series will offer users the same speeds, resolution, and overall professional looking results, which its business customers achieve by using the same hardware. Consumers may find these printers more to their liking, over existing laser and inkjet printers, because the Single Pass Color and digital LED technology offers lower total cost of ownership.

Herb Hinstorff, marketing director of Sun's user software group, commented, "Just as we're focused on providing out business customers with a powerful, fully integrated alternative to costly desktop solutions, Oki Data has successfully provided their customers with an affordable, high-performance printing solution that is an alternative to other manufacturers'. The compatibility between our innovative Java Desktop System and Oki Data printers is a unique benefit to our customers. We're giving them more ways to expand their printing capabilities and enhance their business operations."

Oki Data has supported the printing needs of enterprise clients using open source platforms like Linux. The Sun Java Desktop System, Release 2, also makes use of open source technology that offers a fully integrated desktop client environment. With more and more small and medium-sized businesses adopting this platform, along with Linux, printing solutions must be created that complement the reduced business costs open source platforms offer.

Keith Fenton, Oki Data's software product manager, recently said, "Oki has always provided small and medium-sized businesses with superior printing solution, and now we are able to bring the value and performance of our printers to the large portion of those customers operating in open source environments." He added, "Businesses have implemented Linux and open source applications to gain cost and productivity advantages, and they will find that our printers, services, support, and customized solutions can offer lower cost and greater productivity advantages over our competitors."

Oki intends to provide as much support for open source operating systems, as the company does with operating systems like Windows and Mac. Oki is shipping both its C7000 and C9000 Series printers with Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) drivers, which streamline printing across multiple computing platforms.