The Internet Architecture, Availability and Security

The recent happenings at Microsoft (erroneous updates to DNS Servers,  Hack Attacks and a Denial of Service Attack),  Internet Redirections to a Hosting Services Provider and attacks at various Government sites have shown again that although the Internet does serve its purpose (allowing multiple access paths remember !), it is individual sites or DNS servers that fail -- either in their software or in their administration.

Sun and Microsoft Part Ways on Java

Sun and Microsoft have settled their law-suits over the licensing of Java.  However, with Microsoft being limited to version 1.1.4, I believe that Microsoft would not be interested in any continuing efforts with the Java code it has (although it does say that it will port Java to .NET).  It has already announced plans to push C# ("C sharp") and migrate J++ users to C#. 

Microsoft will soon drop the JVM from MSIE.  Although users would be free to download the JVM from Sun/Java, not all users would be aware of this. What then happens to the "open" nature of the Web where a user using a "standard" browser can access most WebSites ? {not that MSIE and Netscape behave the same even now }.  

Java developers should also note that Microsoft would not be licensing J2EE either. 

Both Sun and Microsoft have won.  Users and developers have lost.