I read the article, and followed a link to
http://www5.zdnet.com/anchordesk/story/story_771.html. I am not so sure
that there are not some just criticisms of what Sun proposes. Of course,
I am delighted that this conversation is occurring. The burden is now on
Sun to prove that their critics are wrong. And perhaps MS will stick
with the strategy of trying to offer what is readily available, but make
it more attractive for Windows developers to use the "extras" that MS
adds. If I mix "pure Java" and ActiveX components, well, I have a
Windows app, don't I? And I am still a Windows developer, and will
probably be unhappy anywhere that I cannot do what I do on Windows, so
am far less likely to develop anywhere else.
But that's just my opinion, and I'm glad if you disagree, because you
probably have some good ideas that will work really for you, and if I'm
lucky, for me, too. And if not, then you can compete against me, and I
either make my products as good or better, or lose business, or hire
really really good marketing.
I rooted for Warp, simply because it made MS work harder, but also
because it a decent product for a company that needed a break in this
area (talk about needing some decent marketing... they shipped a year
early, and still lost the race). As for the JVM, will Sun sponsor a 100%
Java certification, or come after me if I claim it and they disagree? I
am glad for what Sun is doing, too, but perhaps for different reasons.
As for them fighting for their life, if they lose their market, who's to
blame, the loser or the winner?
>----------
>From: Gavin Scott[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 1997 6:38 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] Beware of geeks bearing gifts
>
>Item Subject: [HP3000-L] Beware of geeks bearing gifts
>Wirt wrote:
>>There is a fairly interesting -- and I believe fairly accurate -- opinion
>>piece on Java & Sun Microsystems on ABC News' website. Its URL is:
>>
>>http://www.abcnews.com/sections/scitech/moody21/index.html
>
>Well, I read this article and I'm afraid I think its author is simply
>a victim of the Microsoft propaganda machine. In case anyone hasn't
>noticed, Microsoft now appears to be waging an all-out war against the
>possibility of competition from Sun and Java. Microsoft loves to
>"helpfully" point out to people anything they can that makes it sound
>as though Sun has this deep seated desire to behave, well, like Microsoft.
>It sounds to me as though Mr. Moody has spent a wee bit too much time
>on the phone with "helpful" Microsoft marketing people.
>
>Nobody seriously thinks Sun is in the Java business out of some idealistic
>desire to battle the "evil" Microsoft on behalf of the world's computer
>users. Clearly Sun is yet another computer company fighting for its life
>against the Wintel juggernaut. On the other hand, many people (obviously
>myself included) find many compelling reasons to support the growth of
>Java, and to resist the soothing Microsoft suggestion that everything
>will be all right just as long as we do everything that Bill Gates tells
>us to.
>
>The heart of Mr. Moody's article appears to be the following quote:
>
>"Now it is clear that if Sun has its way, any developer making a Java
>application will have to pay Sun for the right to use Sun code_including
>the Java Virtual Machine code without which no Java application can work."
>
>I fail to understand how anyone familiar with the situation could make
>such a comment. Practically every platform, including the HP3000 and
>HP9000, now comes with a vendor provided Java Virtual Machine and runtime,
>and every development tool comes with a license to the Java development
>environment, so I don't exactly see where Sun is going to suddenly put the
>screws to "any developer making a Java application".
><snip>
|
