I've been playing a bit with Java for the past while but lack of time has kept me from putting more on my page. Also, I don't believe that you should just put something on for the sake of "putting it on" (e.g. that you put frames on your page just because you have recently learned frames). But Java is a very interesting programming language because it gives us some new possibilities to make easy scripts for webpages and do other cool stuff that doesn't take long to learn.

I have read a book about it, Hooked on Java and so far I've also read the first 50 pages of Java Programming for Dummies ^TM. If this is the first time you want to try playing with Java I would recommend that you buy Java Programming for Dummies ($29.99) because it teaches you how to actually program your own java scripts and not just customize ready-made applets. But then again, that's just my opinion...

You can use java to make a bunch of different things. I wish I could show you how to make your own, small java applets but unfortunately, it wouldn't be much good to you when you don't have a java compiler. It turns the .java files (which are just plain text files) into .class files that the applet needs. You get a free java compiler when you buy either "Hooked on Java" or "Java for Dummies". Good luck on your java!