Run DitherTest demo applet (merlin).
Select "Alpha" for either Horizontal or Vertical.
Click "New Image".

Exception:
java.lang.InternalError: Win32 LockRasData cannot nest locks
    at sun.java2d.loops.DefaultComponent.paintArgbOntoXrgb(Native Method)
    at sun.java2d.loops.paintArgbOntoXrgb.MaskBlit(DefaultComponent.java:194)
    ...

I haven't tried solaris. My display is set to True Color. I am using Windows 2000.
It works fine in kestrel, so I imagine this is due to the extensive 2D changes for merlin.