Ken, >Is there a future for Java3D at all? I certainly would like to hope so. ;-) I am convinced by Sun's uptodate column on www.javasoft.com? Checkout Java3D API in Action. (Well, Sun managed to wash my brain on that issue.) > If neither Netscape or Microsoft is >going to support it in their browsers, what good is Java3D? I think the plug-in strategy work regardless of browsers' capability. As long there are plug-in support in browser, you can have JVM in your browser. > As a "High Level" graphics API it isn't complete enough to develop large scale applications and at the >same time Java itself isn't capable of low level access to 3D hardware without using >JNI or some variant there of. So other than just an interesting diversion for people >who have too much time on their hands, what good is it? If one had used OpenInventor, one could appreciate Java3D. The speed of Java3D is pretty acceptable (way better than OpenInventor C++ Win32 implementation which cost ~$660 for a student like me). Even on my laptop without a 3D accelarator, Java3D is usable. Also, the support for VRML97 (run down version of the ever long compilcated hard to implement open inventor format) is there which goes well with the internet. You are probably concerned about games and ray tracing like applications. Given time, Java3D will proove itself useful in those arena (maybe). After all, Java3D thunks on to OpenGL/Direct3D/QuickDraw/XGL to get its speed. You got a 3D accelarator, Java3D has the power. Here is a quote from the "Spec": "Java 3D implementations are expected to provide useful rendering rates on most modern PCs, especially those with 3D graphics accelerator cards. On midrange workstations, Java 3D is expected to provide applications with nearly full-speed hardware performance." BTW, has anyone tried writting a ray tracer renderer based on saved data from a SceneGraph? I think a Java3D VRML97 loader and POV implementations could do the trick by implementing an "Adapter". Anyone wants to support a free "java3D-raytracer" group. It will definitely improve the acceptibility of Java3D. Kovalan ===================================================================== To subscribe/unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Java 3D Home Page: http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/
