java 1.5 beta2 has been released. going by this, maybe in
five years, you will get java  2.0

And then there will be real confusion.

maybe marketing decides to call that java 3, but I wonder
whether that will reduce the confusion, or worsen it.

My thumb rule:
if it is not an integer (1.1, 1.2, ... 1.5), it means the
software release.

if it is an integer like (2), it means java 2 which is a
conceptual enhuancement.