I remember when Java was exciting. There were several attempts at open source Java OSes like JOS (https://jos.sourceforge.net/). A Java applet runtime for the PalmPilot. My thesis on dynamic aliasing protection was based on a dynamic Java-esque runtime. But... Java got a reputation for being heavyweight.
And yes, as others have said, instead we got the modern web, with (for example) web based word processors requiring orders of magnitude more compute power than a desktop of the early Java era.
And yes, as others have said, instead we got the modern web, with (for example) web based word processors requiring orders of magnitude more compute power than a desktop of the early Java era.