Brief Hands-On Report--Apple Java Update for Mac OS X v10.3.9 1.0 to Fix Java Problem

The update is available via the System Preferences Software Update pane if you have Mac OS X 10.3.9 installed or as a standalone updater from this Apple Web page. As we noted previously, some people have had problems with Java applications and/or Java applets in Safari after installing Mac OS X 10.3.9 Update. Apple posted a KBase article on the problem with a test for the Java problem and a fix involving reinstalling one or two prior updates. This Java Update fixes the problem directly with a small 532KB download.

The Read Me file states:

This update will correct issues affecting some Java users following the installation of Mac OS X v10.3.9 Software Update.

The Java Update appeared in our Software Update window on all of our Macs, including Power Mac G5, iMac G5, several PowerBooks and an original clamshell iBook, running Mac OS X 10.3.9 despite all of them having passed the test suggested in the KBase article. So we downloaded and installed the Java Update in all of them. No problems were encountered with their installation and immediate use. [Bill Fox & Dana Baggett]