JethroUK© wrote:
> I have a message "Java Update available" before i install it - i know
> it runs java games but do i really need it?? Is there anything at all
> i'm likely to miss if i uninstall it?
Installing an "update" may result in installing a new version. This can
result in having multiple versions installed. Sometimes it is required
to have an old version for compatibility with an old program, but few
users actually have Java programs installed on their hosts and instead
they end up downloading Java applets that run locally (so the site
should be ensuring their applet works with the latest version). Usually
only Java software developers need to have around the old versions.
Rather than update, uninstall [all versions of] the old Java
interpreter[s] and install the latest one.
http://developers.sun.com/downloads/top.jsp
or
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
(Unless you develop in Java, you only need the JRE).
If you don't want to know about updates (or check for them yourself when
you choose) and don't want to waste the memory having their updater
always running in memory, go to Control Panel -> Java, Update tab, and
uncheck the automatic update option.
You only need the Java interpreter if you install or download Java-based
programs to your host. This also means if you visit web sites that
download and locally execute Java applets on your host. For an example
of a Java applet, see
http://www.chron.com/xword for a crossword site
that uses Java. Java always runs locally either because you installed a
Java-based program or downloaded it (which may have been downloaded by a
web site).
Javascript is often confused with Java, like Outlook Express is confused
with Outlook. They are not the same. Javascript is the scripting
interpreter built into the web browser and many web pages use it. Not
having a Java interpreter will not interfere with the web browser
running Javascript in a web page. See my other post as a reply to
Leonard in this thread.
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