• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Dell and HP will add Java Decisions seen as a result of Microsoft suit

Posted on: Friday, 13 June 2003, 06:00 CDT

Sun Microsystems Inc. moved a step closer to making its Java programming language a force in personal computing when Hewlett- Packard Co. and Dell Computer Corp. agreed to include Java software with their desktop and laptop computers. Industry executives and analysts have viewed the inclusion of Java as a standard software component on personal computers as an indicator of the effectiveness of the antitrust settlement the U.S. Justice Department reached last year with Microsoft Corp. Under the terms of the agreement among Microsoft, the Justice Department and most of the states that participated in the 1998 antitrust trial, Microsoft is prohibited from pressuring computer makers over the software they include with their machines. Microsoft distributed an earlier version of Java but stopped when Sun brought an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft. Wednesday's announcement was a step forward from that setback. Java is an advanced programming language originally designed to allow programs to run on many different kinds of computers. Having the component preinstalled on personal computers makes it possible for users to run Java programs sent via the Internet without having to install additional software. Sun executives said that the move would give Java an important advantage in the personal computer world. Sun has made Java a dominant force in the corporate server market, as well as in consumer products like cell phones and hand- held personal digital assistants, but its penetration into the PC market has lagged, said Richard Green, vice president for development platforms at Sun.

The back and forth with Microsoft has limited the success of Java on the personal computer desktop, Green said. It is remarkable that the two largest computer makers have committed to Java for their customers.

Sun has already announced agreements with the Linux software vendors Red Hat Inc. and Lindows.com, as well as with Apple Computer Inc.

More News in this Category