Java VM Evaluation

Java Virtual Machine Evaluation

This page is not yet complete (10-23-97)

Cyberdog Browser (Macintosh only)
1. Macintosh
  Untried as yet, but expected to be excellent using MRJ 1.5 from Apple.
Netscape
1. Macintosh - Netscape 4.0
  Works pretty well.
  No JIT compiler so it's not too fast, but fair.
  Cannot access file system.
  - Stop buttons don't work because of multi-threading problems.
  - When you enter the colormap editor the fractal image goes away. Workaround is to resize your browser.
  - In colormap editor ramped colors don't refresh automatically.
  - Gif files are on rare occasion displayed as text.
  - Usually crashes my Macintosh closing Netscape or starting it up second or third time after rebooting Mac.
2. Solaris - Netscape 3.0
  Displays JavaQuat fractals incorrectly as they are being drawn but refreshes correctly when finished. Often can not display an initial fractal image from the "Explorable" fractal gallery, but works OK on subsequent tries. No JIT compiler so it's not too fast. Cannot access file system.
3. Windows NT
  I need to check out my PC at work and see if it has Netscape. I don't know much about it and even though it's "top of the line" as far as PCs go, I only use it as a dumb terminal to get to a 12 processor Sun Unix machine. And as terminals go it's very dumb. I hate it, except for the wonderful 1200x1600 screen which I love. Anyone know how to disable the windows key in NT?
Internet Explorer
1. Macintosh - IE 4.0
  Internet Explorer is pretty buggy on a Power PC. It will load JavaQuat from the Web and say that JavaQuat has started, but it does NOT start. Internet Explorer 4.0 crashes my Mac when I try to load JavaQuat from disk. Internet Explorer on the Mac is quite inferior to Netscape. It does not even show animated gif files correctly, chopping of the end. Will crash my Macintosh if I close IE4.0 and start it up second time without first rebooting the Mac.
2. Macintosh - IE 3.0.1
  Internet Explorer is pretty buggy in its Java support. It will load JavaQuat from disk, but trying to load from the Web it will fail and sometimes will crash my Mac. Has JIT compiler so it's fairly fast, but unless you download JavaQuat it's worthless.
3. Windows NT - IE 3.0
  Works pretty well and is moderately fast on JavaQuat. Several bugs are observed in the Color Map Editor. Button coloring is not supported, an annoying bug which Microsoft probably did on purpose to be incompatible. The color selector sliders do not generate the necessary events to apply the color they select. As a work around place use the numerical setting boxes and press the return key for an update. When it comes up with an initial fractal from the Explorable fractal gallery it takes a long time before the buttons work, but eventually, after several lost clicks they start working. Has JIT compiler so it's fairly fast. Can, I'm told, access file system if JavaQuat is placed in the trusted applet directory
4. Windows 95 - IE 4.0
  It works for some people, I'm told.
JDK 1.0.2
1. Macintosh
  Pretty reliable. Cannot draw background color on button reliably and when it does the buttons lose their labels. Various other similar minor annoyances. Has some clipping errors on the big drawing area. Has no JIT compiler so it's fairly slow. Can access file system.
  There are newer versions of the JDK, of course, but there are no versions directly from Sun for the Macintosh.
2. Solaris
  Untried.
3. Windows NT
  Untried.
MRJ SDK 1.5
1. Macintosh
  The BEST I've tried. Even the garbage collection is faster. Has JIT compiler so it's fairly fast. Can access file system with correct settings.

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