SUN Java for Windows.

I know that a lot of people like the Opera Browser, but SUN puts out a Java package supposedly just for Windows & IE.

Is this SUN Java for windows better than the Java machine Windows provides? I was considering getting it, but would like to know more about it.

 

Dunno. Here's an interesting article about the MS antitrust case:

Burt also introduced evidence - product reviews, statements from software developers and industry executives, and Sun's own internal documents - to show that Sun still has not delivered on the "Write Once, Run Anywhere" promise it has been making to developers for several years. Gosling, the inventor of the Java language, admitted that Sun has always claimed that Java provides full cross-platform compatibility, which would allow software developers to write programs that would run successfully on any platform without further modifications. But Gosling repeatedly referred to full cross-platform compatibility as a long-term goal that the company is still working toward.

Burt responded by reiterating that many industry experts have said that Java applications run faster and better on Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine than on Sun's, and that Microsoft offers developers a far better option when they want to write either cross-platform or platform-specific applications using the Java language.

"That may or may not be true, but it's not the issue," Gosling said.

"Well, Dr. Gosling, it is certainly an issue for developers who want to write a Java program today and know where its going to run most successfully, isn't that true?" Burt asked.

"It's not nearly as important as what the situation is going to be tomorrow," Gosling shot back.

"It certainly is a factor for a developer today, and it was a month ago, and six months, and in April of 1998, wasn't it?" asked Burt, who had shown Gosling a series of industry publications criticizing Java's poor performance in the Sun environment and praising Microsoft's Java options.

"For the people writing this article, yes," Gosling said, referring to a PC Magazine article that praised Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine over Sun's.

"And potentially at least to developers reading the article, correct?" Burt asked.

"Potentially," Gosling admitted.

Burt pointed to several cases in which Sun partners believed Sun's "Write Once, Run Anywhere" marketing and tried to develop 100% Pure Java applications using Sun's technology. Netscape, Corel and IBM all found Sun's Java technology unsuited to their needs, and were forced eventually either to give up their projects altogether or turn to Microsoft's better technology.

Gosling repeatedly blamed the other companies for the failure of those projects, but Burt continually introduced contrasting evidence showing how others viewed those projects. In one interview, Netscape co-founder Mark Andreessen was interviewed about a failed project between Netscape and Sun to develop a Java-based Web browser called Javagator.

"'Javagator is dead,' Andreessen said in the interview. 'My joke is that a Java Navigator will have a lot of good attributes. It's slower. It will crash more and have fewer features, so you can do fewer things. It will simplify your life,' he said, laughing."

BTW, the article was penned by MS so don't view it as being impartial

Personally, I have never noticed any real difference between the flavours.

 

I don't know if it's any "better" than what comes with Windows, but I have used Sun's JRE (current version is 1.4.1_01 I believe) with several versions of Opera and also with Mozilla. I've never had a problem with websites that use Java. I guess you could just try it and judge for youself.

 

Very interesting, brett .

That pretty much parallels my experience. I find MS Java faster and less prone to error overall. At least there is only one version at a time needed.

There are some sites that require Sun Java, and sometimes even a particular version. I installed the latest only to go play a game that only would run on the previous version. So, now I have 3 total versions for all the sites I need Sun's Java for.

But, since each version installs an applet in the Control Panel that allows for disabling the browser plugin, I can choose which to use. Disabling all 3 gives MS Java priority.

Deloris --It wouldn't hurt. Like I said, you can always disable it.

 

Sun puts out the same java package for all browsers in Windows. You don't need a special version just for IE, but the installation will be different depending on whether you download it using IE or another browser. With Intenet Explorer, you can use the Automatic download and installation OR the manual download and install. With other browsers, you have to manually download and install. One the Sun Java is installed it can be used with any browser that supports it.

Download link here:
http://java.sun.com/getjava/help.html
The IE automatic installation is described here:
http://java.sun.com/getjava/install-windows.html

I've tried both Sun's Java (1.4.0_01) and Microsoft VM in IE5.5sp2 and I don't recall any problems with Sun's Java other than the fact that Sun's Java loads the "cup of java" icon in the system tray when you encounter your first java applet, and it stays there until you close the browser. I didn't care for the loading process of Sun's Java (found it annoying) so I switched back to Microsoft VM in IE. With Mozilla you have no choice, you have to use Sun's Java.

From what I understand, Microsoft is no longer developing it's Virtual Machine due to the Sun Microsystems lawsuit and the only updates are now for security reasons.

If you are thinking of trying out Sun's Java in Internet Explorer, go ahead. You can switch back and forth using Sun's Java Plugin control panel applet, browser tab. You just checkmark Microsft Internet Explorer and restart IE to use Sun's Java, or UNcheck it and restart IE to go back to the Microsoft VM. There's an even easier way which I use to switch, jut select or deselect the Sun Java option in IE's tools, Internet Options, Advanced tab.

I was using Sun's Java in IE 5.5sp2 for safety reasons, because of the security flaws in Microsoft's VM. After I was able to install VM 3809 containing the latest security fixes I switched back to the Microsoft VM. Microsoft doesn''t make Java available for download anymore for Windows 95 users so I might be switching back to Sun's Java when the next Microsoft VM security bugs emerge.

 

Thanks to all.

I suppose then that I'd just have to try it & see if I liked it.

Since it can be disabled if I don't like it, then it wouldn't hurt to try it.

Thanks again guys for the input. Really appreciate it.