Difference between File.separator and slash in paths

Question

What is the difference between using File.separator and a normal / in a Java Path-String?

In contrast to double backslash \\\\

Answer 1

"Java SE8 for Programmers" claims that the Java will cope with either. (pp. 480, last paragraph). The example claims that:

c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_11\demo/jfc

will parse just fine. Take note of the last (Unix-style) separator.

It's tacky, and probably error-prone, but it is what they (Deitel and Deitel) claim.

I think the confusion for people, rather than Java, is reason enough not to use this (mis?)feature.