Despite outnumbering Sun's user base by at least an order of magnitude, Mac users haven't been treated as a high priority within the Java community
With all the bad news coming from Cupertino of late, it’s not surprising that Apple’s elegant Macs don’t draw much attention from software developers and vendors. With record losses, combined with a Microsoft operating system (Windows 95) that’s finally approaching the Mac OS in terms ease-of-use, why would a developer peddling software for a living focus on the smaller, shrinking piece of the platform pie?
Yet Apple still boasts millions of loyal customers — people who plug into the Internet more than PC users, on average, and who by their mere decision to invest in Macs indicate a willingness to look beyond the lowest common denominator in search of better solutions.
If JavaWorld reader letters and subscription comments are any indication, a significant mass of Apple customers are paying attention to Java, but — sadly — the Java community doesn’t seem to be returning the favor. Development of the Java Development Kit and Java-enabled browsers for the Mac lags significantly behind that for Windows 95; Sun rightly supports its own OS to keep its current customer base happy, but (Mac-specific porting challenges notwithstanding) has not given equal attention to the Mac customer base — despite the fact that there are a few dozen Mac users for every one Solaris user. Indeed, if Java truly is to become as ubiquitous as Sun hopes, the Mac may be a more important stepping stone than Solaris.
The apparent second-class treatment of the Mac by the Java community seems ironic, considering that Sun bid on Apple only months ago, and that Sun’s already signed a broad licensing agreement with arch-rival Microsoft.
Bad Apple?
But perhaps Apple is at fault here, too. After all, the company has a legacy of protecting its proprietary technologies and is only slowly breaking this mold. While nearly every other major computer company has licensed Java or is otherwise seriously pursuing use of Java, little public activity of this sort is apparent at Apple, which hasn’t indicated any licensing plans.
Yet it may be Apple more than any other computer vendor who stands to gain from Java, for if Java fulfills its potential, users will be able to get any application they want, regardless of which platform they use. Developers who now shy away from the Mac in favor of the larger Windows user base will adopt Java’s broader user base, and thus again develop apps (this time Java apps) that run on the Mac. For Apple, Java could prove to be a powerful equalizer.
A bold step by Apple to embrace Java by incorporating into the Mac operating system might be just what the doctor ordered. At minimum, Apple should recognize the potential blessing Java offers and become a licensee. Heck, even Novell has licensed Java! (On the flipside, perhaps Sun should consider licensing the MacOS. But that’s another story.)
Mac users, take heart
Remember, Mac users, that Java applets will run on the Mac. In design, if nothing else, Java is Mac-friendly.
Remember too that the immense Windows 3.1 user base also has not been treated well by the Java community. IBM is trying to address this environment, but Java-related Mac development surpasses Windows 3.1 development to date. The point: It could be worse.
Continue to voice your support for things like incorporating OpenDoc into Java. Let Apple, Sun, and the Java community at large know that you exist and that you care. (You may also have to somehow demonstrate that you matter.) Speak up on issues such as the integration of OpenDoc and Java. Develop Java-related products for the Mac. Create Web-based resources for fellow Mac Java enthusiasts. And help encourage Java to live up to its platform-independent claims. After all, this independence may be as important to Java’s success as it is to Mac users.
Also, tell JavaWorld how we can best serve the needs of the Mac community. In response to your requests, we’re already taking steps to make downloading source files easier, and welcome further suggestions. Send your input to feedback@javaworld.com.
Miscellany
JavaWorld has launched a subscriber drive! If you’ve not yet done so, be sure to register as a subscriber. Each week from now until May 7, we’ll draw a winner from our subscriber list. The prize: a free pass to the JavaOne developer conference. So register now. See http://www.javaworld.com/jw-05-1996/javaone.promo.html for more info.
JavaWorld is also exploring the possibility of offering each issue’s entire content packaged into a single file that readers can download and view locally. If you are interested in such an offering and have thoughts about its value, please send a note to jwdownload@javaworld.com.
Finally, we encourage you to visit JavaWorld‘s archives of previously published magazines, which can be found at http://www.javaworld.com/common/jw-backissues.html.
Michael O’Connell is editor-in-chief of JavaWorld.
