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Comparing Java to Flash won't win you any friends. Especially since you're assuming that Java == Applets. Why don't you go play some Java games instead?

http://www.puppygames.net/
http://www.wurmonline.com/
http://www.javaunlimited.net/games/db.php?min=0&so rt=5&order=1&screen=0&max=25 -- (Make sure you try Miners, Xero, and fuzetsu. Those are my favorites. Amazing that they fit in a mere 4K, isn't it?)

8K! 8K? Hah! In my day we had to use 32 nybbles because the Kaiser had stolen the word byte!

But seriously, this is not the first time that I been frustrated that a "history" of handheld computing didn't include the Microvision. I remember when the Gameboy came out in 1989, and I thought, "But, I had one of those 10 years ago."

Well, for one thing, it is slower than native code.

Patently false. It has been false for years now. Ever since Chris Rijk published his earth shattering benchmarks. (More recent benchmarks here.)

It's now down to the skill of the programmer. A good programmer will write speedy code, and a bad programmer will write garbage. Who'da'thunk?

For another, its garbage collection has a tendency to result in really bad performance stalls

When was the last time you used Java? 1.1? The modern hotspot JVM uses a generational collector which should NEVER stall during runtime unless it begins running into memory pressure. Go try this game and tell us how many stalls you see. If you think that's too "simple", try this one.

For another, its portability has been hampered by not fully supporting interesting OS features, which means that there are all these OS-specific extensions to add things like audio support,

Is there something wrong with the javax.sound packages? I'm REALLY thinking that you haven't tried Java since 1.1.

They don't integrate well with other apps, don't do a good job of supporting OS services, etc.

Psst!

Finally, Java makes it hard to add debug functionality into your code without a performance hit.

That's just a weak argument. Debugging info can really screw up a codebase and should be removed after debugging. But if you're wedded to the idea, get one of the three billion preprocessors that are available.

The bottom line is that pretty much any compiled language has great advantages over Java.

The bottom line is that you haven't used Java since the days of 1.1, but you feel that you're fully qualified to make statements about a platform you know nothing about. Whether you intend to or not, you are trolling, sir. So I would ask you to stop spreading FUD by not commenting on Java until you are again familiar with the platform.

(Well, Miners also didnt use that counting link from the beginning, but the percentages for counted starts vary a lot obviously.)

The one game that has been downloaded the most until now (Miners4k is great fun: Reminds me alot of the (a href=http://chir.ag/stuff/sand/>Falling Sand-game.

Sure, the skills are different. But simpler games can be made for this platform. Think games like pacman.

1. Pacman was larger than 4K.

2. If you think that fitting a full game in so little space is easy, then I invite you to try your hand at the Java 4K Contest. We'll see how you do. (Here's a hint: It's not easy. It takes an exceptional understanding of computer technology.)

Your next argument is dumb.

No sir, your argument is dumb. I never claimed it was a small market, but I did claim that only a percentage of the (rather large) market is interested, and that those interested are only looking to fill in time gaps. Pay attention next time.

I think it's nice that they can make a cut down version that small, but who will ever use it?

No one. The floppy disk merely provides a nice frame of reference that directly contrasts the out-of-control growth in modern programs and data files. Given how useless floppies are these days, most people would be amazed if you could fit the equivalent of 50 megs of Desktop data into 1.44 megs. The floppy suspended on a rotating pedestal thus serves as a visualization of how small that really is.

Personally, I think that's kind of big. 1.44 megs could fit 368 different 4 kilobyte games! (Story)

http://javaunlimited.net/games/java4k_2006.php

Everybody loves screenshots...