Re:Return of the terminal (Score 1)

I certainly see your point. However, the first time an application is distributed isn't an update. A user just goes to website (most know how to do that!), and clicks a link. From then on you could do updates automatically from the application without ever visiting the site again. You also do not have to code up an installer program unique to every platform.
Check this:
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-07-2001/jw-0 706-webstart.html?page=2
-Joe
http://www.lovehorsepower.com/