Frank Schoep recently wrote an article "Java 2 SE 6.0 Aesthetics Preview":

"While surfing on the web the other day I decided to check out the
development progress of the next Java version. Codenamed Mustang and gifted with
the number 6.0, it promises some exciting new graphical features for Java
applications. I downloaded a binary snapshot and tested two new aesthetic
changes: subpixel font rendering and the new and improved GTK Look and Feel.

Before we start, let me again state that I tested a binary development
snapshot because Mustang is still in active development. The build number I
tested was b54, compiled and released on the 29th of september 2005. I tested
the self-extracting 32-bit and 64-bit Linux versions, not the RPM ones. I tested
the JDK on Ubuntu 5.04, Hoary Hedgehog, also both the 32-bit and 64-bit version.



My fonts in GNOME were set to Bitstream Vera Sans, although I'm not really sure
that font is used in the font rendering test. Base font size was 10 points.

Let's dive into the first feature, subpixel antialiased font rendering,
because it will increase readability on modern TFT and LCD screen by a large
amount. Rendering of fonts on a subpixel grid was already supported by the major
operating systems, like Windows and Mac OS X, and desktop environments like KDE
and GNOME, but Java uses its own cross-platform software widget rendering system
called Swing.



Java offered simple grayscale antialiasing in earlier releases, which could be
activated by a runtime parameter, or set on run time using a system property.
Using GNOME, antialiasing would automatically be enabled if setup in the font
configuration panel. Mustang's subpixel antialiasing will activate when the
windowing system supports it. This feature works for Windows, Mac OS X and GNOME
already, but you can't get subpixel rendered text on other OSes and DEs yet,
which is a pity for KDE users like me. Luckily, it's entirely possible a command
line switch or system property will be introduced later on to manually enable
this behaviour. "

Read full (illustrated) article here: http://www.ffnn.nl/pages/articles/java/java-2-se-6.0-aesthetics-preview.php