It's unlikelhy that you'll see a noticeable increase in Java-based code. Jobs made a comment about Java in the annoucement -- basically that your Java code will continue to "just work" -- no recompile necessary (but then that IS the point of Java after all). It implies Apple is providing a JVM for the x86 based version of OS X. However... if a straight re-compile doesn't work (for a non-Java application), then probably the amount of rework required is small enough that it'd be faster to re-optimize the code for the new platform. Converting a program to run in Java would be more work than fixing the existing code. That's porting.
As for new software development (not 'porting') then Java obviously removes the need to rebuild the application for multiple platforms.
I got my first Mac -- a PowerBook G4 'Titanium' -- about 1-1/2 years ago. One week later Apple released faster PowerBook 'Aluminum'. Sucks to have your computer turned into "last year's model" in just one week.
Ever since that experience I've watched MacRumors.com product cycles to see when a product is due for a refresh because I don't want to buy the old model again.
Here Apple announces that in about 2 years time, everyone with a PowerPC based system is going to be obsolete -- splintering the already small code-base even smaller. Folks with G4 & G5 systems will have a hard time finding software since all the new titles will only release on Intel. Translators are never as good as running native.
Now I ask you... do YOU want to go buy a Mac at anytime in the next two years KNOWING that your "new" computer is about to be made obsolete and all you'll be forced to buy all new software or run it on a processor translator?
The distribution from Sun is a bit easier and doesn't have funny names with lots of repeating vowels and no consonants in them. =) When you pop in the CD, it has a readme.txt and a file with a pretty obvious name: sun_staroffice_v7.exe (Unix versions have similarly obvious names).
Unfortunately the distro from Sun cannot be given away freely since it's bundled with some commercially licensed stuff (mostly fonts) that Sun doesn't own. Sun has to pay the owners to include them in the packaging. Apart from that, the software really is the same.
The companies are doing what they're supposed to do. Namely, try to increase share-holder value. If I were a shareholder (I'm not), I'd want them to lobby for this too.
But the politicians are another matter entirely. They're supposed to look out for the well-being of their constituents -- not just a short list of "constituents" who just happen to be big businesses.
Occasionally, helping a business is in the interest of the larger population if it creates jobs and improves the economy without being unfair to everyone else. But in this case, I have a very hard time trying to see how granting localized monopolies to big business is in the public interest. If they think they can compete with the rates, they should try. If they don't think they can compete, they should be free to stay out of town. The notion that if you want to use the Internet then these businesses are somehow just entitled to your dollars is arrogant.
I still don't understand why people don't get angry enough to start recall campaigns.
If only lawn-care companies had more money, they could buy a few politicians to ban private individuals from mowing their own grass and force them to hire a lawn-care company.
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It's unlikelhy that you'll see a noticeable increase in Java-based code. Jobs made a comment about Java in the annoucement -- basically that your Java code will continue to "just work" -- no recompile necessary (but then that IS the point of Java after all). It implies Apple is providing a JVM for the x86 based version of OS X. However... if a straight re-compile doesn't work (for a non-Java application), then probably the amount of rework required is small enough that it'd be faster to re-optimize the code for the new platform. Converting a program to run in Java would be more work than fixing the existing code. That's porting.
As for new software development (not 'porting') then Java obviously removes the need to rebuild the application for multiple platforms.
I got my first Mac -- a PowerBook G4 'Titanium' -- about 1-1/2 years ago. One week later Apple released faster PowerBook 'Aluminum'. Sucks to have your computer turned into "last year's model" in just one week.
Ever since that experience I've watched MacRumors.com product cycles to see when a product is due for a refresh because I don't want to buy the old model again.
Here Apple announces that in about 2 years time, everyone with a PowerPC based system is going to be obsolete -- splintering the already small code-base even smaller. Folks with G4 & G5 systems will have a hard time finding software since all the new titles will only release on Intel. Translators are never as good as running native.
Now I ask you... do YOU want to go buy a Mac at anytime in the next two years KNOWING that your "new" computer is about to be made obsolete and all you'll be forced to buy all new software or run it on a processor translator?
I sure don't.
The distribution from Sun is a bit easier and doesn't have funny names with lots of repeating vowels and no consonants in them. =)
When you pop in the CD, it has a readme.txt and a file with a pretty obvious name: sun_staroffice_v7.exe (Unix versions have similarly obvious names).
Unfortunately the distro from Sun cannot be given away freely since it's bundled with some commercially licensed stuff (mostly fonts) that Sun doesn't own. Sun has to pay the owners to include them in the packaging. Apart from that, the software really is the same.
The companies are doing what they're supposed to do. Namely, try to increase share-holder value. If I were a shareholder (I'm not), I'd want them to lobby for this too.
But the politicians are another matter entirely. They're supposed to look out for the well-being of their constituents -- not just a short list of "constituents" who just happen to be big businesses.
Occasionally, helping a business is in the interest of the larger population if it creates jobs and improves the economy without being unfair to everyone else. But in this case, I have a very hard time trying to see how granting localized monopolies to big business is in the public interest. If they think they can compete with the rates, they should try. If they don't think they can compete, they should be free to stay out of town. The notion that if you want to use the Internet then these businesses are somehow just entitled to your dollars is arrogant.
I still don't understand why people don't get angry enough to start recall campaigns.
If only lawn-care companies had more money, they could buy a few politicians to ban private individuals from mowing their own grass and force them to hire a lawn-care company.