iv programed in java, C, C++ and perl, i find perl the easiest to use but that probably cause it the the one iv used the most.
java ftw i think java is one of the strongest and best out of those, though for a new programmer, i'd suggest C++ instead of java. VB.net has a LOT of power for is simplisity, i just don't like how much CPU vb.net programs use... They also tend to be written by people that don't understand programming alot, cause its so easy, and as so, they tend to be written really poorly, but ricky and expon both prove how to write pro level programs with vb.net
Actually, I hear that Java is one of the best languages for beginners. That always seems to be the first one taught... though I don't know either Cpp or Java, so I can't speak from firsthand experience. However, I did ask a CS professor at a university I looked into why that was. Apparently, Java is simpler than languages like Python or Perl, so it's easier for a beginner. I was also told that it was easier than Cpp because it was definitively object oriented, whereas Cpp is C with OOP hacked in, so it tends to be schizophrenic.
Java is a pretty good language. Its powerful, but its code tends to get very long and stuff. C++ generally has cleaner code, even though it may look like a mess to a beginner.
Whats better Java or C++. Whats easier, for me it was Java. But thats because I learned it at school Visual Basic is okay but its not really that fun in my opinion to use.
In terms of raw computing power and speed, C++ just pwns all competition. Java is a friendlier to programming newbies in that the code is more intuitive and more organized. C++ has a more hacker-oriented paradigm and so you usually end up with convoluted code