EDIT: after reading your question again, I suspect that I might have misunderstood your question
How to learn Java:
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Get java (J2SE JDK): java.sun.com
Get a (few) good book (ask friends/co workers/look at
http://www.javaranch.com/books.jsp) on Java and Object Oriented programming
Read tutorials
Practice
Practice
Practice
How Long will it take you:
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Depends on what your goal is.
Now, all I know about you is that you "know nothing", so my guess is that
it will take you �-1 year (10-15 hours/week )to get a basic understanding of
programming. Then add some 3 years and you can call yourself a programmer
- not an experienced one though.
My pleasure,
/Svend Rost
[ December 10, 2005: Message edited by: Svend Rost ]