Trying to install via ftp helped clear up what was happening: dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of jdk1.1-dev: jdk1.1-dev depends on jdk1.1 (= 1.1.6v2); however: Version of jdk1.1 on system is 1.1.6v2-1.
Since it presumably has the information available to it, apt should give messages that are as specific as the one above. -Randy
