Re: Java helps prove consumers want technology unbundled

["Eric M. Hopper" <hopper@omnifarious.mn.org>]

On Tue, Dec 14, 1999 at 02:04:52PM -0500, Lewis A. Mettler wrote:
> The success of Java is in large part due to the fact that it is not
> tied to any particular platform.  Sure it is a nice language. But,
> that is NOT what Java is all about.

	This is perfectly true.

	The lack of success of Java is due to the fact the competing
implementations from other vendors largely don't exist.  People want to
be able to buy a compliant Java from someone other than Sun.  At least,
I do.

> Java is attractive to consumers and developers alike because it is not
> tied to any one platform.  It may not be write once run everywhere
> quite yet.  But, it is clearly not a technology that restricts the
> ability of consumers to benefit from multiple platforms.

	But it doesn't actually work right now because everybody's
attempts to create their own implementations don't work because of how
Sun is treating the standard.  It's a pretty hit or miss proposition as
to whether a Java applet I try to run works as intended.

> On the contrary, bundled technology offered only on a single platform
> does restrict consumers.  And, that is only one way in which bundling
> harms consumers.

	Sure, but you don't have to have the same vendor's
implementation of that technology on those other's platforms.  In fact,
you can get a completely different bundled implementation of that
technology.  That's what standards are for.

Have fun (if at all possible),
-- 
Its name is Public Opinion.  It is held in reverence. It settles everything.
Some think it is the voice of God.  Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet
broke a chain or freed a human soul.     ---Mark Twain
-- Eric Hopper (hopper@omnifarious.mn.org
                http://ehopper-host105.dsl.visi.com/~hopper) --