This is BrainLog, a blog by Dan Sanderson. Older entries, from October 1999 through September 2010, are preserved for posterity, but are no longer maintained. See the front page and newer entries.

October 1, 2001

I enjoy Microsoft FUD because it's just so blatant. I won't recount the whole Microsoft-and-Java story, as great a story as it is, but you can see what I mean from the Microsoft Technologies for Java page. MS wants to drop support of Java applets from their web browser, but they don't want to seem like the result is a broken browser, so they continue to make "the Microsoft virtual machine for Java" available. So the next time you visit a page using Java applets with Internet Explorer 6, you will automatically be given the opportunity to download a big ol' plug-in: "Download your free copy of the Microsoft VM (build 3802) for Microsoft Internet Explorer today. Connection fees may apply." Connection fees?

See more wonderful features of IE6, including MSXML 3.0. I didn't think it was possible to embrace and extend XML. *smirk*

comments...

Dan Sanderson, October 2, 2001 1:46 AM:

And why didn't Microsoft mention the risk of connection fees when I upgraded to IE6? Hmm?



:)

Jerry Kindall, October 2, 2001 10:48 AM:

Yeah, of course connection fees may apply. Outside the U.S., most people pay by the minute for their Internet access.

Jerry Kindall, October 3, 2001 11:42 AM:

Nobody's perfect, eh?

Cletus, August 22, 2002 12:26 PM:

Microsoft's substantial and ongoing efforts to crush java reveal their fundamental fear of the platforms potential. The almost insidious of the way IE6 handles VM issues is simply another example of this...



Most professional developers aren't insterested in Microsoft vs. Java political issues but MS continues to force us to take sides.





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