The browser will say "I don't have this plugin".

For each site to redesign their page, and some code to try and trap that, or to have a "go get this here" page, with the associated headaches of making sure that it works (and remember, if that doesn't work, they'll complain to the site telling them how to do it).....

This could actually cause consumers to become irritated that MSFT would force them to download such a piece of junk.

I don't think I need to comment on the unlikeliness of that.

And more Windows problems (even if Java related) may force more people to try alternative OSes, say Linux for instance.

This isn't a Windows problem. Its a Java/browser problem. To their minds.

And it will be the burden of the site, probably, that bears the brunt.

But it might stop a lot of Java web development. (Not the backend, but pieces to run in the browser, like Hushmail).

Addison