howto install Java in Ubuntu 8.04

"And what is the terminal?"

Look at "Where's the Terminal?" on http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/terminal

1) Connect to the Internet
2) Open a Terminal
3) In the Terminal issue the command: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

That will install a few useful things, including JRE (Jave Runtime Environment)

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Ubuntu Forums - Absolute Beginner Talk - http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=326
Kubuntu Forums - Help the New Guy - http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?board=7.0

Basic Toolkit
1) Download the Linux Starter Pack - http://www.tuxradar.com/linuxstarterpack
2) Look at the UNOFFICIAL Ubuntu Guide - http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Jaunty
3) Look at Psychocats - http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu
4) Download the Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference - http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

How to install Java

To install sun-java6

Please first enable the multiverse repository:

Open System → Administration → Software sources → [ Tab Ubuntu software ]
enable "Software restrictecd by copyright or legal issue ( multiverse )"
Close and confirm the repository reload.

Then open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:

sudo aptitude update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo aptitude install sun-java6-bin sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

and then select this as your default java jre with

sudo update-java-alternatives

Hope this helps