As anyone following the slow-motion disintegration of Blaxxun (Blaxxun.COM and Blaxxun.DE) knows, there's not a really good substitute for their 3D chat software. But that's all changed with not one, but two related projects showing mature abilities. VNet+ (the successor to VNet) has most abilities of Contact 4.4 and 5.1 except for synthetic Voice (text to voice - each avatar choices its own unique voice). As with Contact 4.4 and 5.1, only Windows machines are fully able to use the software, though unusual tweaks in a Linux WinE environment can sometimes make Contact work. In addition, VNet+ only works properly in Internet Explorer 5.02 or newer. The original team behind VNet+ have stopped work on it and are now concentrating on ABNet. ABNet also supports Linux (with Mozilla), is more flexible about the type of Java used, and allows either Contact or Cortona (Parallegraphics.COM).
VNet+ is more widely used, there's only one public ABNet site at this time. Configuring for ABNet will be explained at the very end of this article. To make VNet+ work correctly, use only Internet Explorer, and make sure that the Java Plugin is disabled, with the MSJVM2 (MicroSoft Java Virtual Machine 2) installed instead. This is easier than it sounds. Most machines already have it installed. To find out if you do, open a DOS prompt and type jview. Something like this should happen:
Microsoft (R) Command-line Loader for Java Version 5.00.3805
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1996-2000. All rights reserved.
Usage: JView [options] [arguments]
Options:
/? displays usage text
/cp <classpath> set class path
/cp:p <path> prepend path to class path
/cp:a <path> append path to class path
/n <namespace> namespace in which to run
/p pauses before terminating if an error occurs
/v verify all classes
/d:<name>=<value> define system property
/a execute AppletViewer
/vst print verbose stack traces (requires debug classes)
/prof[:options] enable profiling (/prof:? for help)
Classname:
.CLASS file to be executed.
Arguments:
command-line arguments to be passed on to the class file
C:\WINDOWS>
If you don't get something very similar to above, you most likely need to download and install the MSJVM2. You can do this either via MicroSoft's Download Center or Java Virtual Machine NET. Be sure to get the right kind (if applicable) for the version of Windows you run.
 The MicroSoft Java Virtual Machine may be called MSx86java on some systems. You want MSx86java. If you've got the JRE Plugin (Java Plugin, JDK Plugin, JRE 1.2+, and similar, but NOT the MicroSoft Virtual Machine 2) from Sun installed, you need to disable it in Internet Explorer to use VNet+. This is actually very easy. Go in on the top menu via Tools...Internet Options and go to the Advanced Options tab.
 Ensure that the Java (Sun or IBM) options are unchecked. Some systems may just show this part as the Java Plugin. Also make sure that the JIT compiler is checked under the MicroSoft VM section under the Sun (or IBM) Java section. This allows the MSJVM2 plugin to run Java in Internet Explorer and turns off the Java plugin. Most machines need to close Internet Explorer (all instances), then reopen it for the MSJVM2 to initialize. If this doesn't work the first try, reboot the machine (warm boots and golden boots should also work).
These instructions are NOT for ABNet and can safely be ignored if you're configuring your machine for ABNet. ABnet isn't fussy about Java - MSJVM2, Sun Java and IBM Java will all run in ABNet. You can switch the kind of Java you run at will by reversing the above instructions.
Having made your machine run the correct Java, a VRML plugin from Blaxxun is needed. VNet+ works best with Blaxxun. As a rule, better visuals are achieved in OpenGL mode, though Direct3D allows faster movement, but at the expense of graphics and lighting.
You're now configured to enter any of the VNet+ 3D VRML chatrooms:
Webdevelopers may also want to create their own 3D chatrooms using their own (or purchased) VRML worlds. You can do this at the VNet+ website by using their Build page. Just follow the instructions, click the LAUNCH WORLD WITH CHAT (temporary creation) or the MAKE AN ANCHOR TAG (to embed in a webpage at your site) button. The Build page also has a link to their Download page for webdevelopers wanting to install VNet+ on their own servers. Currently, VNet+ requires a dedicated 'Nix box for a private installation, though talks of allowing the VNet+ server to be privately installed easily to most public webservers is in progress. We'll post more here with full instructions as either an update or a new article once this becomes an option. Here's a link to the public distribution of the VNet+ server for those wanting to do the dedicated Linux install.
Most chatrooms will have one or more preinstalled avatars (VRML Hanime robots). You may use them, or if you prefer your regular avatar, know its URL, and input it at the appropriate time. It's easier to locate (via clipboard or similar) your avatar's URL before entering the chat. Avatars are the visual representation of a surfer in the chatroom and are visible to both the surfer and all other chatroom participants. VNet+ supports personal avatars, but NOT avatar gestures. ABNet supports personal avatars and has a partial subset of avatar gestures supported. People without a regular avatar with its own URL should opt for the preinstalled avatars.
Now for those special instructions on configuring for ABNet. Most any Java (MSJVM2, Sun Java or IBM Java) and either the Blaxxun (Contact) or Parallelgraphics (Cortona) VRML plugin will work. This applies to both Windows and Linux boxes. Windows boxes need Internet Explorer 5.02+ and Linux boxes need Mozilla (1.x+) as their browser. ABNet also has synthetic Voice as a "next generation" goal, making it a potential Blaxxun killer. Both VNet+ and ABNet are now potentially good substitutes for 3D VRML chat.
VRML is dead! Long live VRML!
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