What are the alternatives to comparing the equality of two objects?

if(this.getClass() =! other.getClass()) {
    return false; //inequal
}

public class Services {

    private static Map<String, Service> SERVICES = new HashMap<String, Service>();

    static interface Service {
    	/** Services with the same name are considered equivalent */
    	public String getName();
    }

    public static synchronized void installService(Service service) {
    	SERVICES.put(service.getName(), service);
    }

    public static synchronized Service lookup(String name) {
    	return SERVICES.get(name);
    }

}

@Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
    if(this == obj) {
        return true;
    }

    // only do this if you are a subclass and care about equals of parent
    if(!super.equals(obj)) {
        return false;
    }
    if(obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
        return false;
    }
    final YourTypeHere other = (YourTypeHere) obj;
    if(!instanceMember1.equals(other.instanceMember1)) {
       return false;
     }
     ... rest of instanceMembers in same pattern as above....
     return true;
 }

Integer a = Integer.valueOf( 2 );
Integer b = Integer.valueOf( 2 );

a == b

new Integer( 2 ) == new Integer( 2 )

Adding duplicates to a map (bad):
Result of map.get(bean1):first
Result of map.get(bean2):second
Result of map.get(new NameBean("Alice"): null

Adding duplicates to a map (good):
Result of map.get(bean1):second
Result of map.get(bean2):second
Result of map.get(new ImprovedNameBean("Alice"): second

// This bean cannot safely be used as a key in a Map
public class NameBean {
    private String name;
    public NameBean() {
    }
    public NameBean(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return name;
    }
}

// This bean can safely be used as a key in a Map
public class ImprovedNameBean extends NameBean {
    public ImprovedNameBean(String name) {
        super(name);
    }
    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        if (this == obj) {
            return true;
        }
        if(obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
            return false;
        }
        return this.getName().equals(((ImprovedNameBean)obj).getName());
    }
    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        return getName().hashCode();
    }
}

public class MapDuplicateTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        MapDuplicateTest test = new MapDuplicateTest();
        System.out.println("Adding duplicates to a map (bad):");
        test.withDuplicates();
        System.out.println("nAdding duplicates to a map (good):");
        test.withoutDuplicates();
    }
    public void withDuplicates() {
        NameBean bean1 = new NameBean("Alice");
        NameBean bean2 = new NameBean("Alice");

        java.util.Map<NameBean, String> map
                = new java.util.HashMap<NameBean, String>();
        map.put(bean1, "first");
        map.put(bean2, "second");
        System.out.println("Result of map.get(bean1):"+map.get(bean1));
        System.out.println("Result of map.get(bean2):"+map.get(bean2));
        System.out.println("Result of map.get(new NameBean("Alice"): "
                + map.get(new NameBean("Alice")));
    }
    public void withoutDuplicates() {
        ImprovedNameBean bean1 = new ImprovedNameBean("Alice");
        ImprovedNameBean bean2 = new ImprovedNameBean("Alice");

        java.util.Map<ImprovedNameBean, String> map
                = new java.util.HashMap<ImprovedNameBean, String>();
        map.put(bean1, "first");
        map.put(bean2, "second");
        System.out.println("Result of map.get(bean1):"+map.get(bean1));
        System.out.println("Result of map.get(bean2):"+map.get(bean2));
        System.out.println("Result of map.get(new ImprovedNameBean("Alice"): "
                + map.get(new ImprovedNameBean("Alice")));
    }
}