On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 23:43:09 -0500, "Mike Henry" wrote:
I don't really have a good (or at least not a knowledge-based) reason for
not liking Java programs. I'm partly persuaded against them based on DoN's
dislike of Java-script activated on web pages but that probably doesn't have
anything to do with a stand-alone Java program. Then too, I'd guess that a
Java program must suffer at least a little speed loss since I believe that
it is essentially an intrepreted program. That may not make any difference
in actual practice of course. The issue of importing existing Outlook and
OE archives would still be a show-stopper for me, though.

Java was intended to be a portable language, and by embedding it in
browsers, a web enabled language. But there are stand alone interpreters
and *compilers* for it too. The latter remove any speed disadvantage
for Java programs.

Sun has a number of Java developer resources on the web. They also
have a newsletter, which I receive, for Java developers. It is full of tips
and program fragments. There are also a number of CDroms available
with interactive tutorials.

Microsoft offers an inexpensive compiler for a Java varient they call
J++. It has support for all the Windows GUI features built in. As usual,
it isn't 100% compatible with the actual Java language, but it can be
a good way to get your feet wet in Java programming.

Gary