Can a java applet on a web page run on the user's machine and download files and launch on their computer? I'm just trying to find out what permissions a java applet can have.

I need the user to click on a web page and have an applet check to see if a program is on their computer and either download/update or just run it if it is there. I noticed gotomypc.com and glance.net uses java.

I know I could do this with an activex but these other places used java so I'm wondering if there is an advantage for it? Its only going to be on XP machines anyways but just want to see what java can do.

Thanks!

Warren