Atlanta - As NetWorld+Interop opened today, conversations drifted from announcements at the show to a lawsuit filed 3,000 miles away.
And showgoers were split over who they favored in Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s lawsuit against Microsoft Corp. for allegedly mislabeling its latest Web browser as Java compatible.
"Microsoft tried to muscle Java out of the market," only it failed and is instead getting its just reward, said Greg Johnson, a systems engineer for Compaq Computer Corp.
"Microsoft is in an almost monopolistic situation where they can dictate what is compatible with their systems and what isn't," Johnson said.
But Ken Stewart, a global venture manager for AT&T, said Sun is only playing politics and trying to drum up some publicity with the suit.
He predicted Sun will be forced to create a version of Java specifically for Microsoft systems.
"I don't think Microsoft will own up to being intimidated by Sun," Stewart said. "And I don't think (the suit) will force Microsoft to be Java-compatible.
He predicted Sun will eventually cave and let Microsoft produce a Windows-specific version of Java.
"It'll lookthe same thing as Java, just with a different name," Stewart said.
"Microsoft's first step will be to deny it," according to Bob Schriff, senior marketing manager for FORE Systems, Inc. He said his money is on Microsoft denying Sun's claims - then doing whatever it takes to make Internet Explorer 4.0 truly Java compatible.
"Microsoft is going to make Sun prove the incompatibility,' he said. "Sun has ulterior motives in all of this, too," he added said. "It wants to put Microsoft on the spot to say whether they are for or against Java."
"This is a wily, crafty move on McNealy's part," he said.
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