   java3d
  Hi,I want to implement a simulation that needs to be runnable by pretty much any computer by anyone. Therefore I figured using a java applet would be a good idea. Now this simulation is simple but 3d. You guys think java3d is a good idea here, will it run on computers without good graphics cards. Or would you say its better to just write my own simple 3d graphics engine for the job. -CProgrammer   
  It really depends what kind of simulation your looking to do using Java3D. I know the API is fast enough to run some pretty complex stuff.. I used Java3D to do my third yr project which was a gait simulator in that it loaded in parametric descriptions of a person's gait and simulated the walk by generating a 3D model (hierarchy of primitives) and mapping the data onto it.. It seemed to run reasonably well unoptimised on my xomputer but I never got as far as testing it anywhere else..Also as far as cross-compatibility goes, I would steer well clear from Java3D if you can since you'd only be able to run the application on a machine with the runtimes installed and it'd be a bit of a chore trying to get any end user to go through the complicated process of installing everything before they can run the app..Maybe consider using C# with managed directX if you wanna get your own 3d engine up and running quickly (as opposed to C++ and unmanaged directX that is)..?If you haven't used C# before then it shouldn't be too difficult to pick up since the syntax is *very* similar to Java and I hear managed directX is like babyfood too..Good Luck..!   