Dwight,
Which "computer trade magazine" are you referring to, Dwight,
Microsoft World? They're being sued by SUNW because they
don't pass the required compatibility tests to receive the
"100% pure Java" status. A judge as ordered them to remove
the Java logo from their Java product because it is not
compatible. Other vendors who develop 100% pure Java products
have passed the tests. That means MSFT is not more compatible
than anyone else. SUNW now alleges that MSFT attempted to
change the Java language on purpose to make it incompatible
with SUNW's version. SUNW is asking the court to force MSFT
to include a SUNW-approved JVM with Windows 98 so that there
are no compatibility problems. A MSFT exec was quoted as saying
that 100% pure Java would never work so MSFT should steal the
language. It's SUNW's product, not MSFT's, so SUNW sets the
standard of what is compatible with their product and what isn't.
MSFT has never claimed to have passed the compatibility tests, only that the compatibility tests don't matter. What more
evidence do you want?
HP was warned by SUNW of potential IP violations with their
embedded Java product and they BACKED OFF, saying that they
wanted to work with SUNW to make certain their product was ok
to sell. The last I heard, the 2 companies were working
together to achieve that goal.
I agree with you, Dwight, about the licensing deal with MSFT.
MSFT should back out, return the code & forget the whole thing,
but they're not going to do that, at least not yet, because
Java is too big to ignor. They want to market Java & use it to
make money & they want to make it a proprietary MSFT product
& stall the 100% pure Java movement. It ain't gonna work that
way, Dwight. MSFT is going to get its ass kicked in court over
the Java contract & they will have to comply or give it up. |
