Find out if I should use Java Or ActiveX

From: Michael (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 02/25/04 

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 11:01:06 -0800

Hello everyone,
    I have to write an application that will be hosted by IE. This control also needs the ability to make a connection to a remote server, can run without the user changing security and the user doesn’t need the .NET runtime on the client machine to run. I think my options are either a Java Applet or ActiveX control.
  If I go with Java, can a Java Applet use sockets to connect to a remote machine? Other than allowing IE to run Java Applets would I have to make any other security changes to allow the applet to connect to a remote computer?

If I go with ActiveX can I write it in .NET without requiring the user to have the .NET runtime on their machine or would I have to write it in VB or C\C++? In any of the languages would I have to change any security settings in order to connect to a remote computer? If a newer version of the ActiveX is on the server will IE download it or continue to use the older object?
   Thanks,
       Michael