Netscape reports JavaScript's navigator.javaEnabled() method incorrectly

(Apple problem # 3313487)

Many versions of Netscape for the Macintosh report the value of javaEnabled() as false even if Java is enabled.

For your browser navigator.javaEnabled() has the value of

There is a kludgy workaround that end-users can employ: un-select the "Enable Java" preference and then re-select it.  Then  reload this page and javaEnabled is true.  Unfortunately this therapeutic effect is not retained when the browser is closed and then re-opened. 

This bug has a strange record of being broken (falsely reporting false) and fixed several times:

 
Broken Netscape 6.1 for Macintosh OS 9
Fixed Netscape 6.2 for Macintosh OS 9
Broken Netscape 7PR1 for Mac OS X
Fixed Netscape 7.01 for Mac OS X
Broken Netscape 7.1 for Mac OS X
Broken Netscape 7.2 for Mac OS X

This problem lives as Mozilla bug #97613, started 30 August 2001.  

If you have any insights, workarounds or comments about this test page please contact Mickey Segal.  A listing of  many Java resources is at this link.