Sound off on the Sun/Microsoft dispute

You've had a week to think about it -- now it's time to speak your mind

un says that Microsoft has deliberately breached its contractual obligation by not supporting the complete JDK 1.1 in the shipping version of Internet Explorer. Microsoft says that it is in compliance with the contract and says that Sun is trying to force it to ship a whole new operating system on top of Windows.

Well, you can't see the contract in dispute, but you can let Sun and Microsoft know what you think of this bickering.

Take a few minutes and fill out our survey on this important issue and let your voice be heard. We'll publish the results in an upcoming issue and, who knows, maybe Scott and Bill will get your message.

1. Sun's position is:
With merit
Without merit
Don't know

2. Microsoft's position is:
With merit
Without merit
Don't know

3. The lawsuit will be:
Extremely good for Java
Good for Java
Bad for Java
Extremely bad for Java
Neither good nor bad for Java
Don't know

4. Should Sun hand over control of Java to an International standards organization?
Yes
No
Maybe
Don't know

5. Sun says Microsoft's VM is not the reference implementation for the Windows platform. Should it be?
Yes
No
Don't know

6. Do you think this lawsuit will be settled in time to have a significant impact on the direction of Java?
Yes
No
Don't know

7. As of today, do you think Java will fulfill its promise of delivering applications that can be "written once and run everywhere?"
Yes
No
Maybe
Don't know

8. How has your opinion on question 7 changed in the last 12 months?
I have become much more optimistic
I have become more optimistic
I have become more pessimistic
I have become much more pessimistic
I have not changed my opinion

9. Which best describes your primary job duties?
Systems administrator
Programmer or developer
Network administrator
Database administrator
Systems analyst
Webmaster
Consultant
Systems integrator
Other technical professional
manager
Student
Other

10. Is your company developing in-house applications with Java?
Now
Not presently, but within the next six months
Within the next six to twelve months
More than a year from now
Never
I don't know

11. Is your company purchasing Java-centric applications for in-house use?
Now
Not presently, but within the next six months
Within the next six to twelve months
More than a year from now
Never
I don't know

12. Enter any comments you may have here:

If you have technical problems with this magazine, contact webmaster@sunworld.com

URL: http://www.sun.com/swol-10-1997/swol-10-readersurvey.html
Last updated: Tuesday, October 14, 1997