Paul,
The last two data centers I was in were using DEC (VMS and NT) and HP (HP-UX) machines. With the INTC buy out of DEC and with INTC's work on Merced with HP, the UNIX future may not be all that bright. HP noted that their UNIX business is slowing down in their last financial report. If you look into SI you will find NT running things. I use IBM as my ISP (don't think I will find Suns there either), which autostarts Netscape for me, however, all my home e-mail is done though Outlook Express, while Exchange is used where I currently am consulting.
It looks like IE4 is catching up with Netscape and Exchange is gaining ground on Notes. HTML may be challenged by MSFT's XML. I still maintain that Java is a toy language. If and when someone comes up with a working NC running Java, then I will be a believer, however, this write once run anywhere 'silver bullet' for MSFT is running into problems at the places where it is under development. Don't write off VB, with it's underpinning in the Office suite, it may supplant Java. In this business the best technology does not always win.
I consult in the pharm industry, a major user of an language called SAS (which once stood for Statistical Analysis System). My understanding is SAS Institute justed switched from UNIX (I think on HP machines) to NT as their development system, however, they are using Java, so maybe there is hope for Java.
Regards,
Rich |
