I know that there has been several topics regarding java vs. quicktime.  Presently, I use java for all of my tours.  My client expressed a concern that I am hesitant to answer...because honestly, I don't know how.  I previously read in the forum that Windows has a version of java installed so I always thought that it was more user friendly then Quicktime; which requires a download.  I also like the ease of use as far as the auto rotating in java.  Here is the email that I got from him.  Your thoughts on the subject (and a possible response) would be greatly appreciated: 

The trouble is that since SUN/Microsoft decided to not agree, Microsoft no longer(for the past couple of years) does not natively support JAVA applets.  Consequently, all our viewers with newer browsers (windows xp and above) will be required to download the JAVA engine from SUN in order to view these tours.  Since the covers over 90% of our viewers its not realistic to think that these tours will be view too often.  Especially since our viewers are not too computer savvy.

While it is true Microsoft and Sun Micro have had there differences it is also true that 90% of all computers still have Java installed. If you don't have Microsoft JVM installed you can still download and install it. Alternatively you can download and install Sun Java. Both are easy to do and really don't require any skill. Writing plain English instructions might help also.

If you are catering to PC users predominately I would offer this advise. Output your movies as Quicktime and then use www.devalvr.com plug-in 200kb to display them. If Devalvr is not installed a friendly link explains how to get it and install it. You can even use their detectvr script to sniff for Quicktime, Java or Flash. So whatever is installed on the viewers computer will be used to display the panorama. Now Devalvr doesn't work on Mac's but as Quicktime is apple format it takes over.

Back to Java, 90+% of all Banks (online banking) use Java so it is HIGHLY unlikely that you come across a computer without Java installed. It also should be noted Sun Java is the most current and up to date Java platform and is the one to use.

Regards, Smooth

Sun Java came on our new notebook (Toshiba U205-S5044 12"screen) abeit it was Sun version 1.5.0.   Straight out of the box we found:

Java panoramas functioned properly.

QTVR panoramas work well.

Flash panoramas did NOT work.  All I saw was a white box using Flash version 7... which popped up a browser plug UPdate notice which took me to the Adobe Flash plugin update page.  They are now viewable with Flash version 9.