thanks otto,
yes, i installed the JDE along with the emacs...in a package that i found on the web. then i downloaded the Java SDK to the default directory it specified...i downloaded jdk 1.1.8 and jdk 1.3.
JDE for emacs looks like it's working fine, it does all of the indents and changes color for all of the classes, methods, reserved words, etc....but when i try to compile anything it says "Compiling" and never stops.