Just a bit of info. MS is removing VM from Sp1. They will issue a download called Sp1a. According to them, VM is dead and Sun's JRE will be included in SP1b. Like it or not, it looks like MS and Sun made a deal. Below is a quote from Lockergnome's Chris Pirillo.
"Java schmava. It looks as though Microsoft's VM (the software required to run Java applets) is officially dead. They're removing it from SP1, making it SP1a. Then, later this year, they're releasing SP1b with Sun's JRE. If you have SP1 already installed, stick with it - don't do a thing. If you'd rather be running the latest version of the Java VM, you'll wanna swing by Sun's site. Why is this happening? Who knows. I didn't see Macromedia whining when they released a new version of Flash that wasn't bundled with SP1. That particular plug-in is merely a player, much like the VM is for Java applets. But I suppose an argument could be made that Sun was unfairly treated. Whatever. In my life with the Web, I've come across less than ten sites that weren't working with Internet Explorer's bundled client. And dear GOD, somebody hire a professional UI designer over there! My suggestion? Yeah, go ahead and install Sun's software today. It's free, and everything stays out of the way until you need it. Now, if you've got better things to do with 32 megabytes of hard disk space, stick with your current solution. What does this mean to Joe and Judy Consumer? Headaches, pure and simple. They don't care, and why should they? It's bad enough we have to turn to pop-up blockers and anti-spam utilities to keep our sanity. Now we have to install yet another third-party plug-in to get a "better" Web experience. Thpbt! "
