Java 1.4.2_06 or Java 5.0

[bucketbuster]

At the moment I am still using 1.4.2.05, but I just downloaded 1.4.2.06

I also found this topic by RyanVM about J2SE 5.0 has gone final:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=28940&hl=java

Can anyone tell me what the differences are between those two?

And which one I should install?

Thanks in advance.

[jjn1056]

I'm not a Java expert but...

From what I understand, unless you are a programmer who wants to take advantage of the new features of the java language that are part of the 1.5 (also branded as Java 5), you might as well stay with Java 1.4.x since the newer version is a feature release, not a bug or security release.

Although there is very high compatiblity, it would not be impossible for some current Java apps that were designed under Java 1.3-1.4 to to fail under Java 5.

Until either 1) you want to use a Java app that needs 1.5 or 2) they stop supporting 1.4.x with new releases for bugs and security issues, you might as well stay with the 1.4.x Java. It's tried and true and pretty much everything you want to run will be designed to work on it.

On the other hand, if you don't run any Java apps, and just like to have cool stuff on your PC, feel free to download it and install it. BTW, you can download the latest Java JRE for both 1.4.x and 1.5.x and install both on you computer. Not sure if that is a good use of space, but hard drives are cheap today

[bucketbuster]

Thanks jjn1056

I think I stay with 1.4.x until I need 1.5

[Acheron]

Do note that programs which are java-based like Azureus load faster and are more responsive with new Java 5.0

[minalgar]

From what I understand, unless you are a programmer who wants to take advantage of the new features of the java language that are part of the 1.5 (also branded as Java 5), you might as well stay with Java 1.4.x since the newer version is a feature release, not a bug or security release.

Java 1.4.2_05 is java 5.0 as far as I understood it. And about the feature release, that is not entirely true:

http://software.silicon.com/security/0,390...39126099,00.htm

Also read here:

http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do...ey=1-26-57591-1

This issue is addressed in the following releases:

* SDK and JRE 1.4.2_06 and later

Actually all versions prior to 1.4.2_06 have a very important security flaw. Usually Java is very secure because of its sandboxed environment, but this flaw makes it possible to circumvent these security measures. Actually this flaw affects windows as well as linux. So i strongly suggest that you install 1.4.2_06 and no prior version.

Martin

[bucketbuster]

Java 1.4.2_05 is java 5.0 as far as I understood it. And about the feature release, that is not entirely true:

http://software.silicon.com/security/0,390...39126099,00.htm

So when I understood that article correctly; IE and Firefox are affected and Opera isn't?

Thank god, I'm using Opera

Thanks to hp38guser; if that is true, I might consider switching to 1.5

[RyanVM]

Java 1.4.2_05 is java 5.0 as far as I understood it.

Wrong. 1.5.0 is what was renamed to Java5

[minalgar]

Wrong. 1.5.0 is what was renamed to  Java5

I cannot seem to find a dowload for the JRE 1.5.0 anywhere. And if I install 1.4.1_06 and type java -version at a command promt I get java version 1.5.0.

The same if I go to

http://www.javatester.org/version.html

That is confusing to me. Can you clarify that? I downloaded and installed 1.4.2_06, I got the same result for 1.4.2_05, and I get a version number reply of 1.5.0. It seems to me that 1.4.2_05 or _06 is java 1.5.0?

[prathapml]

For those of you confused about versions:

There was 1.4.2_05 (which is now old).

The next version was supposed to be 1.5 - but got renamed to 5.0 instead (so you won't find 1.5 anywhere).

Maybe 1.4.2_06 is a service release for those still on the 1.4.x versions. But for all other purposes, unless you have a compelling reason to stick with 1.4.x versions, move to JRE 5.0.

jjn1056 (second post in this topic) has given a nice explanation. I can add that Java 5.0 seems to have better-looking widgets (a smoother UI, in other words).

[minalgar]

Thanks prathapml, but even if you go to www.java.com you will only find 1.4.x. Also I wonder about my version number which is said to be 1.5.0. I did a clean install of Windows XP SP-2 with 1.4.2_06 and it still tells me that it's version number is 1.5.0....

www.java.com does not have a never version than 1.4.2_06.

[minalgar]

Here is an article from sun describing the name change...

http://java.sun.com/j2se/j2se-namechange.html

But no answer to where to find Java 5.0 RE. So is it still beta?

[prathapml]

about the feature release, that is not entirely true:

http://software.silicon.com/security/0,390...39126099,00.htm

So when I understood that article correctly; IE and Firefox are affected and Opera isn't?

Thank god, I'm using Opera

No, that inference is wrong. I use opera too.....

Opera just uses the Java run-times that you have on the system - and so does mozilla/firefox (and IE). So even if you use opera, you need to keep your java version updated.

[minalgar]

Google my friend found something for me:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp

There is a link to download JRE 5.0.

I just wonder, why is it not possible to find Java 5.0 on www.java.com.

Is it not considered stable yet, or is it because its backward compatibility is not the best which makes sun choose not to make it available to the normal user?

[punker]

I wonder why the default version when downloading from java.com is still 1.4... maybe 5 is unstable still. Anyone got anymore info on this??

[minalgar]

I must have made a mistake, or the auto update feature tricked me. When I did a clean install of java 1.4.2_06 without network connection the version reply was 1.4.2_06 . Sorry about the misunderstanding. I think i get it now.