I have a site that is free and has three semesters of Java lectures called: http://sites.google.com/site/f...

I have a Java site: http://sites.google.com/site/f... They're pretty self explanatory. Three semesters worth.

Fisher Price is the only maker of a phone you should give to a 4-year old.

You know something, Coward, you're so right! What was I thinking? Desktop Metro apps are sweeping the marketplace. Across the globe, enterprises are chucking their vast investments in Web Apps and building desktop Metro Apps using .NET. Thank you for bringing me to my senses, Coward. Yes, I think you're right. I need to rush right out and buy up a bunch of books on .NET and get started right away, learning the language of the future, .NET and the CLR. Thank you! You're my salvation. You've saved me from a career steeped in the massive Java stack and the occasional RubyOnRails. All of those are going in the trash--Coward. You're so right, Coward! I've been such a fool to see the market dominance of Java as being meaningful. The future is Metro, Metro, Metro and .NET is along for the ride. Yay! Thank you for helping me to see the light!

Funny how your remarks are self contradictory. If you're writing in HTML and JavaScript, where do they run? Generally, that means an application server. But if you're writing standalone programs well yes they don't need an app server. But very few of us actually write stand alone apps that don't need some app server to run in.
Secondly, the point of bringing up Metro is the effect it will have on .NET, which means making it obsolete. In case you haven't noticed, nobody but MS is pushing .NET. So, if your primary champion gets on another horse, the future of .NET is not bright. Yes, everybody says they use the "best tool for the job" and that's why there are so many Scala jobs out there. That's why so many companies are clamoring to write SmallTalk apps. I worked for a big company in NYC that used Flex until we discovered it sucked and wasn't up to the task and then we switched our front end to Ruby on Rails which was awesome. So, I in no way am implying that Java is the only game in town. Instead, my point is that .NET is not a language with a bright future ahead--and that's why I would not recommend the used book store guy at the head of this article keep around a lot of old .NET books. Point made. Time for more Anonymous Cowards without the courage to write under their real handles to swarm.

Funny, if Java is such a terrible mess then why oh why is it kicking .NET's ass in the marketplace? Why are companies--including even Microsoft--dumping the entire CLR like last week's cottage cheese? Java is not perfect but it gets the job done and all across the country it is the language of choice. It's fast enough and secure enough unless you code like an idiot and are still 4 versions behind.

Finally, yet another meaningless AC, what application server do you stand up in a meeting and propose you use in a MS Shoppe, if not ISS? I've seen it happen before. A project takes on one tiny slice of the Borg from Redmond and before you know it, they have been forced to deploy the whole Redmond stack. It's comical. And I notice that you have not addressed the elephant in the room--Metro. Your own company--MS--has pitched you .NETers over the side. That had to smart.

Every single item you listed is crippleware.
On the Java side, for example, you get production class versions of everything.
Express = Crippled and you know it.

Ultimately, if a developer uses your crippleware to build an app, her company is just going to have to shell out big bucks to MS to buy expensive tool sets. I notice you did not list IIS on your list of CrippleWare. But I'm sure there's a crippled version of ISS floating around somewhere too.

Okay, here's why. As soon as you're using .NET and ASP.NET, you're informed that you have to use IIS. Oh, and IIS really only works well with SQL Server. And then and then...

Dude, nobody gets hired anymore for knowing "basic programming". Also, in most enterprises that I have worked in, mobile apps are novelties. Nobody really bets the farm on a mobile app unless that's their entire business. Enterprises have bigger fish to fry than making another Angry Birds.
In NYC, having .NET on your resume was considered a black mark--because it meant you were a button pusher who didn't understand what was actually happening. It meant you were akin to a script kiddy: Why we don't hire .NET coders

Dude, If you read my first post, I prefaced it with "My opinion".
Second, I've never had a job that expected anyone to know both Java and .NET. Java and .NET are such massive languages--with all the ancillary technologies you must know to be competent--that I wouldn't expect anyone to know both. But knock yourself out.
Third, I have never been asked to spend a dime on anything I was learning. Learning "stuff" does not seem that fruitful to me.

Lastly, where do you get off saying I'm fricking dictating to you--AC? Learn whatever the hell you learn. But I really can't understand why you would want to start learning .NET now since Metro is shit-canning it for HTML5 and Javascript. But it's your life. Enjoy your obsolescence.

Well, sounds like crippleware to me. On the Java side free gets you the best stuff--not crippleware.

Yeah, but the entire Microsoft stack is expensive. It's not the basis for learning. If you need to learn stuff, you should go Java where every damn last thing is free. Eclipse, app servers, everything.

And frankly--I just cannot take seriously anything said by someone who comments as AC.... Ballmer, you're retiring.Give it up. Move along. These are not the droids you're looking for.

This is my opinion.
Java--anything that doesn't say Java2 keep.
Spring -- anything
Application servers--keep anything.
Anything Windows--pitch. Anybody buying used books won't be able to afford Visual Studio.
Anything A+ -- pitch. Don't encourage that dead end.
Anything Networking--pitch, another dead end.
Anything design related--keep.

How amusing to have an Anonymous Coward telling me, a person who has used his real name for every single post, that I'm hiding behind Slashdot. Furthermore, on request I immediately posted the actual bug report I filed with Mozilla, thereby giving a second confirmation of my identity.

So, Anonymous Coward, I'm not sure what part of your hypocrisy I should focus on: that you are too scared to give your real name, that you challenged someone who was obviously speaking of a real issue that I have proven was a real issue, or that you can't deliver an intellectual argument without resorting to whimpering. I will leave it as an exercise for you to decide which of those factors are the best description of your opinions and unwillingness to come out of the shadows. But I do know that I will never cut any slack to you, an Anonymous Coward. Thank you for a laugh.

I am not the only person suffering with this bug.

And it only makes sense for the owners of programs to fix them.

Finally, son, this is slashdot. If you can't handle the heat, run off to Reddit.