Why is Sun putting so much effort into this legal fight to get Microsoft to distribute Sun's Java? Why not spend all that money and effort on compelling developers to create great Java software? If there are enough great desktop Java applications, people will simply download the JRE, just as they have to download any other app from the Web.
It looks like Microsoft won't be shipping Java on Windows, after all. Read this CNet News.com article, "Microsoft Wins Stay of Java Order," by Declan McCullagh:
Also, why doesn't Sun just follow AOL's example and send out CDs to computer users with the JRE, and some compelling apps on it? I bet they'd get more publicity for Java by doing that than by fighting in court.
It might also be cheaper: You can get a CD made for under $1, then you put it in an envelop for 34c -- the whole thing is under $1.50. If you pay an attorney $250/hr, for the cost of a single day of that attorney's work, they could ship Java to over 1,300 people. Wouldn't it be a better deal?
People are not interested in installing software, they are interested in installing applications. The less they have to know about the plug-in, the better it is.
In my view, the value of your argument is proportional to the average bandwidth available to the public. The faster their connections will become, the more valid will your point be.
However, plug-in installment should also become seamless. Sun could probably improve that. Basically, when you are about to play a game on the web and you click OK for installation, you shouldn't even know that it runs over Java.
I suppose everything I said is fairly obvious. Easier said than done. ;-)
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