java version "1.4.0-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0-beta-b65)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.0-beta-b65, mixed mode)


Download Web Start from

    http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/download-linux.html#dl

Installation instructions at this URL state

    http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/docs/installguide.html

...

When the download finishes, unzip and execute the Java Web Start install
script. The script will prompt you for the location of a Java 2 compatible
JRE. For example: (the text in red is entered by the user)

mushmouth% unzip javaws-1_0_1_01-solsparc.zip
mushmouth% ./install.sh
...
Do you agree to the above license terms? [yes or no]
yes
In order to use Java Web Start you must have a version of Java 2 standard
edition installed. If you do not, you can download one from
http://java.sun.com.
Please enter the path of your installation (e.g. /usr/local/java/jdk1.2.2):
/usr/local/java/jdk1.2.2
Creating javaws.cfg...
Extracting...
Updating action...
Updating ~/.mailcap...
Updating ~/.mime.types...

...

--------------

But an actual install session record does not prompt for Java version:

[ xxxxx@xxxxx  webstart]$ ./install.sh
Do you agree to the above license terms? [yes or no]
yes
Creating javaws.cfg...
Extracting...
Updating ~/.mailcap...
Updating ~/.mime.types...
Determining full JRE versions...
(Review ID: 130184) 
======================================================================

You can ignore the fact that your installation is not proceeding like the one
described in the instructions but if the text of a session documented is
included, it should match an actual session or provide a disclaimer.
======================================================================

unix install will only prompt for java if a suitable one isn't found in 
/usr/java.
doccs need clarification
 xxxxx@xxxxx  2001-11-28

we actually look for java in /usr/local/java

 xxxxx@xxxxx  2002-10-09