New Internet Explorer

[p_p_man]

There are plugins you can get to support Java in 6.0, and it will support Java if you are upgrading from a previous version (it uses the earlier Java support plugin).

The licensing issue is just an excuse to drop Java support. M$ hates Java because they cannot control it, and because it is cross platform (both hardware and OS) so they do everything they can to undercut it. They come out with an alternative language C# (C Sharp) and an alternative internet API (M$ .NET - vaporware)

STG
Java Software Engineer

So how does not having Java support affect me and my machine. Come to that what is Java support?

 

[Bob Peale]

It means that as new advances are made in Java, IE will not take advantage of them.

Specifically, if the only way that something is displayed or executed is using a new feature of Java, it may not work right in IE.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

So how does not having Java support affect me and my machine. Come to that what is Java support?

Java support is essentially a Java environment that allows Java applets to run on your computer within the browser sandbox. An applet is essentially an application that can run with that sandbox. The "sandbox" is an environment that allows the application to run, but safely - the applet cannot get outside the sandbox unless you specifically allow it to.

The sandbox usually prevents the applet from reading/writing files, changing settings on your computer, etc. - in effect it is a very safe environment to run applications within without having to worry about viruses/worms/etc. -much, much safer than ActiveX which hooks into every part of your computer and has been the door through which many malevalent programs have snuck in.

Java is a language/environment that allows us software engineers to write applications and other programs with much less worry about what type of machine, or what operating system we the program will be running on. It does this by placing what is called a Virtual Machine between the program and the application.

MS hates this because it would free up people from having to worry about what machine, and especially about what operating system they were running. MS loves to tie everybody into their OS, their applications and their development systems - that way they keep them captive and they are in control. It is not so much about money as it is about control.

What Java support gives you is the ability to visit a lot of websites that have Java applets ranging from a few pushbuttons and data entry fields, to full blown web based applications suites (word processing, etc.). A lot of web sites have switched to using Java because of the above mentioned reasons. MS wants them to switch to their way of doing things, so they have dropped the support in an effort to force this.

STG

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

It means that as new advances are made in Java, IE will not take advantage of them.

Specifically, if the only way that something is displayed or executed is using a new feature of Java, it may not work right in IE.

Sun and others will probably take up the slack on this - but there will probably be a longer time gap between when a new version of IE is released and when the Java plugin is released. MS will do what they can to stall the plugin release by not giving the developers (Sun and others) the info they need, so the developers will have to find that info for themselves.

If you want to influence MS in their decisions about this, do not download IE 6, and write a nasty email to MS that you won't until an updated plugin is released with it.

If you want to go to IE 6 and keep Java support, I believe upgrading from a previous IE will give that to you. Right now I believe the current Java plugin is in synchwith the current features of Java applets out there. Software engineers are usually not going to write applets that have features that the most recent plugin does not support - their applets would break, and they would hear a lot of moaning and groaning. We don't like to hear moaning and groaning - especially when it is from the VP of Engineering.

STG

 

[ShyGuy68]

A couple of days ago I downloaded and installed IE 6.0 on both my computer at work and at home.

Yesterday I had a wierd experience with it on my home system, because very often when I visited different sites, like lit BB, it wouldn't show all the different images on the page.

The strange thing is that I don't really have any problems with it at work, and both places I'm running Win 2000 Pro.

Have any of you an idea as to what can cause this?

I ended up with uninstalling it at my homesystem, and are now back to running IE 5.5 here.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: thanks, stg

There are plugins you can get to support Java in 6.0, and it will support Java if you are upgrading from a previous version (it uses the earlier Java support plugin). I have 5. So do you actually recommend 6? Are there any security issues lurking?

I usually do not recommend going to newer software unless it provides some kind of advantage to you. I especially advise this with x.0 versions as they are usually a major update.

If there is some feature you want from 6.0, or there is some bug fix that you have to have - then consider 6.0. IIRC, I was running 6.0 (a pre-release version) at work before I was layed off and it worked fine with Java and with my machine, but YMMV. My son-in-law installed a newer version of IE on the machine I gave them a couple of years ago - and so screwed up the machine that I had to reinstall the OS.

So my advice is that unless you've gotta have it, and your browser works fine now, leave it alone.

STG

 

[p_p_man]

This thread is definitely worth...

transferring to Word. Is there anything else I should know before I start using this as reference notes?

I take it I can still use another Browser like "Netscape" or our big UK one "Freeserve" without IE6 interfering?

 

[shadowsource]

If you want to influence MS in their decisions about this, do not download IE 6, and write a nasty email to MS that you won't until an updated plugin is released with it.STG

Yes! Good thinking. Plus his other point about early versions of any software. MSwill push us all into line if we're not careful.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: This thread is definitely worth...

transferring to Word. Is there anything else I should know before I start using this as reference notes?

Yes - don't take my word as gospel; I could be wrong. I am working from what I have read and what I remember. I am currently running IE 5 and I am happy with it.

I take it I can still use another Browser like "Netscape" or our big UK one "Freeserve" without IE6 interfering?

You should be able to, but IE has the habit of making itself the the default browser when you install it.

STG

 

[shadowsource]

pp

I take it I can still use another Browser like "Netscape" or our big UK one "Freeserve" without IE6 interfering?
D

But watch out for Netscape. There are lawsuits concerning the fact that they note your ID every time you download anything, anywhere, using their browser download. Adn they force you to eat cookies, while IE doesn't.

 

[April]

Re: pp

But watch out for Netscape. There are lawsuits concerning the fact that they note your ID every time you download anything, anywhere, using their browser download. Adn they force you to eat cookies, while IE doesn't.

I'm running Netscape 6.1. One of the new features is the ability to accept all cookies, no cookies, or some cookies. A major improvement from 4.7. I much prefer Netscape, and use it almost exclusively. So far it has not crashed, but the reply screen for Lit looks a little weird. Too wide. And no problems while running Netscape 6.1, and IE 5.0 at the same time.

 

[p_p_man]

Thanks April...

This little thread is a gem for me. It's answered questions I didn't even know I had!

I'm copying it over to my hard drive but keeping the link open...just in case.

 

[April]

If you have any questions about Netscape, ask away, and I'll try to answer. I'm not a techie, though.

The install is a little different from what I'm used to. You download a installation program which asks you what parts you want. Like do you want the real player attachment, etc. Then you download the parts of the browser you want. You don't have to have the whole thing.

On a connection speed of 46666, it took about an hour to download the whole thing. I fidgeted the whole time. LOL

 

[p_p_man]

Thanks again...

If I have any queries I'll get back...