>Yeah, Java, a language where fear and doubt has surfaced since Oracle took ownership. No clear future. The Java community is very worried about the future of Java, especially with Oracle trying to swing the Java patent/copyright issues in court. All you have to do is look at how Oracle manages their database business to see issues that Java is either currently facing or will face in the near future. Not a very good option.

Agreed and have said so before. Still, Java is currently in the brains of most gov IT the free & professional solution.
Lots if integration needed, Java prototypes / API etc first, Dotnet will come but later.

>
>I have friends that are proficient in both .Net and Java. One in particular speaks at both very large .Net and Java conferences. Everyone of them says without a doubt, they'd rather develop in .Net, saying the IDE, the language, everything is so much easier. Takes less time, hence lowers the cost.

Dotnet IDE is slightly better, but IMHO not a deciding factor (at least for me: IdeaJ, Eclipse and Netbeans are workable).
C# overtook Java as a language, offers much more and put fire under "Java community process"
Java has kept the mobile lure in part via android - MS still firing blanks with a vengeance in that area,
previously hailed WP7 a commercial bust as I predicted, even if it is fun...
Adoption and Jobs: more on the Java side, but slightly lesser paid.

>BTW, there is nothing since .Net 2.0 that you can't be using today. It all still works.

For sure - but Windows is not the goliath dominating all of IT any more.