In Eclipse on OS X you have the ability to select the JDK you want to use for running Eclipse and compiling your Apps in the Preferences Dialog box. I run Eclipse across the board on Linux, XP, Vista and OS X, so I'm not sure how NetBeans handles it, but is should have something similar. OS X is basically a GUI on top of BSD, so what you are suggesting might work, also.

Stephen McConnell

Couldn't say. I'm a Mac guy for home dev and hobby work (and I haven't heard anyone else ever pipe up around here) but I'm waiting to see an official JDK from Apple. While the unofficial preview may work, it also may not, and I'm not interested in risking a stable system config to try it myself. So the short version is: "I have no idea." :)