The computer world currently has many platforms. This has its pros and cons. With its Java Virtual Machine and API, the Java Platform provides an ideal solution to this. The Java Platform is designed for running highly interactive, dynamic, and secure applets and applications on networked computer systems. Being interactive, dynamic and architecture-neutral, the Java Platform has benefits not only for the developer and support personnel, but also for the end user.
Applications are readily available on all operating systems at once.
Users do not have to choose operating systems based on the applications, they can run the applications on their favorite machines. This much reduces the developing cost. For support personnel, version control and upgrades are much simplified because Java-enabled application can be kept in a central repository and served from there for each individual use. How much the Java Platform can benefit us depends on how widely it is deployed. According to JavaSoft's White Paper, the Java Base Platform will soon be embedded in most of widely used Internet browsers, all leading desktop, workstation, and network operating systems.