Bill: I am a very lucky woman and had a chance to hear Marc Andreesen address a small group about six weeks ago. He made the point that MSFT Windows is a consistent operating system only in name - since there is no real compatibility between CE, 3.1, 95 and NT - either at the user interface end or for the software developer. Granted, it was Netscape propaganda, but he had an interesting point.
The strategic significance of Java is that it coincides with this point in history where more and more of the interesting action moves to the network and the user device gets simpler. I don't claim to understand the details, but IBM, Sun and others are working on devices that run Java-based programs without using a MSFT operating system. Heck, the single most popular network appliance that I know of is the Palm Pilot (it now docks over a modem and receives email). USRX has sold over 1,000,000 of these babies and the users are fanatically loyal. Last time I looked, it didn't run a MSFT operating system.
I also know that there are a whole slew of Java-based cell phones and telephones with little screens for email on the way. I don't know if I would want to use them, but they aren't running a MSFT operating system either. And I know smart people who think they will be very popular.
Makes one think, doesn't it. But I guess that is the whole point of this thread! |
