Microsoft has pulled native Java support from Windows XP, a move
that will force users to elect to download a Java Virtual Machine
(JVM) before they can view a wide range of Web sites.
Out-of-the-box versions of Windows XP, which goes on sale in
October, will not include the JVM software needed to run Java
applets and programs, which are used to create animated and
interactive features of Web sites. Some PC OEMs, keen to offer
simple Internet connection, may decide to configure Windows with a
JVM of their own choosing.
"Java is not a core part of our strategy, particularly as we are
restricted to version 1.14 of the JDK [Java Development Kit] as
part of our settlement with Sun," said Gavin King, development
tools product manager at Microsoft.
Following litigation over Microsoft's refusal to pay a licence fee
to use the JVM, Java's owner Sun Microsystems agreed to a
settlement that gave Microsoft the right to continue using version
1.14 of the JVM in its products for seven years.
When an XP user attempts to view a Java-based Web site, Windows
will automatically direct the browser to the Microsoft site, which
will automatically download JVM version 1.14. However, Sun has now
reached version 2.1 of its JVM and Microsoft's increasingly
antiquated version will not fully support all of the latest
features of Java.
This means that some Web sites will not work properly and may even
cause Windows or the Internet Explorer browser to crash. King said
there will be nothing to stop worried users from downloading more
recent versions of the JVM from licensed third parties. This may
involve extra costs for the user.
The lack of support for Java could adversely affect .net adopters
because they will have to ensure that programmers are fluent in
both Java and Microsoft's rival environment C#. This will be
necessary for them to engage in e-commerce with partners that are
not using .net.
With Java and C# programmers in high demand, software developers
with both skills could prove hard to find, and their fees will
inevitably rise.
Java moves on
Sun Microsystems has made the latest
version of its Java 2 platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE),
available for download.
A key component of version 1.3 Beta 2 is the Java Connector
Architecture (JCA), a set of standards for integrating back-end
applications so they can plug and play with J2EE-compatible
application servers.
According to Sun, JCA has been designed to offer easier integration
between legacy systems and Java applications. Christina Axton, lead
analyst at Ovum, said the latest release was significant because of
the availability of JCA, although its impact would only be felt in
the long term.