My prime area of Java development experience has been building Business J2EE applications. The standard N-Tier Web-based client write stuff to a database app with a spot of workflow thrown in.
I have recently had opportunity to write an application that runs in the same architecture but will be deployed to the desktop (Windows only initially), with all the problems that this brings with it….
The good news is that “all the problems this brings with it” is a really small number of problems in reality. The license of the JRE means that I can package it up and deploy it. Jetty will install and run beautifully, and with Google I found this great little Free Windows Installer. It all plugs together seamlessly for a professional looking install.
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The fun begins when you have to update version of your application… especially if it has to be update on ALL clients at the same time.
You might want to consider JNLP…
I am sure that there are some cool technologies for doing the updates. The exciting bit is that at least the problems with having Java on the client aren’t worse that using other technologies.
ie if I was to develop a shrink wrapped application, I wouldn’t need to rule out Java because it is too hard to deploy to clients.