>However, it seems to me that Java will be needed for web work so that was/is my motivation.

JavaScript will be needed, but not necessarily Java. Much of the JavaScript that you will use on web pages can be easily cut, pasted and tweaked from others. For example, you can get a few good ideas just by viewing the source for the upper messagelist pane of the UT. You'll find a "markall" function and some onMouseOver and onMouseOut inline JS code.

Very typical also is code for a web page's "onload" event, to maybe set the focus to the first imput field in a form. So, my point is that knowing enough JavaScript to be productive is not really all that hard.

>(sorry for the aint but I am from the south!)

Aint no prob'em 'tall.

>The article that I refered too in my earlier post seems pretty sure of it's claim that Java will surpass VB for web stuff. How to wade through the hype and find reality is the problem.

That reality will vary greatly, depending on size of business, favorite OS or Database platforms, aversion level to Microsoft, etc.