Opinions on using View Applet on Web

I am working on a Web app which is to be deployed on an Intranet. I have never had cause to use the Java View Applet before in 15 years of Notes development. However for this particular app it seems appropriate. The database list contacts world wide, and the view rely heavily on 4 or 5 levels of categorisation.

I was thinking the View Applet cause it is much cleaner in the way it handles the expand / collapse of categories (Not jerky/visible refresh on the screen, no trip back to teh server for data etc).

My questions is, and yes I have searched all the forums, is

  • how reliable is the Applet?

  • would there be any problem deploying on an intranet, where there is known software and version relesed?

  • known issues

  • Other solutions that may deliver teh same functionality.

Thanks in advance.

Kerry