How to convert resposne to boolean?

How to convert resposne to boolean?

How can I convert a ajax response to boolean value?
I have the following jquery code using the jquery.form.js.
The response is just 0 or 1. However the if(response) is always evaluated to true....
  1.  <script>
  2.  $(document).ready(function() {
  3.      $('#loginform').ajaxForm(function(response, status) {
  4.          if(response)
  5.              //do sth
  6.          else
  7.             //do sth    
  8.      });
  9.  });
  10.  
  11. </script>
  12. <form action="Login" method="post" id="loginform">
  13.  User: <input type="text" name="user"/>
  14. <input type="submit" value="Login" />
  15. </table>
  16.  </form>
The server side code is a java servlet:
  1. response.setContentType("text/plain");
  2.         PrintWriter writer = response.getWriter();
  3.         if(//sth)       
  4.            writer.write(1);
  5.             else           
  6.           writer.write(0);       
  7.           writer.close();