Oh boy, am I new

I could use some help. I know nothing about Java, but want to try it to improve my skill set. I have a iMac 2.4 GHz and can run Windows XP through Parallels 5, I'd rather not as it makes everything so slow. I read in the "Cattle Drive" about not using an IDE, so what are my other options? Would Netbeans (though apparently it *is* an IDE) suffice to begin learning? I'm really starting from "zero" here...Help!

Welcome to JavaRanch! Do you suppose to learn java?

You can use use Java just fine from OS X. Why do you feel you need Windows?

Welcome to the cool gang!

An IDE *should* make things easier as it will spot issues in your code, but with all the bells and whistles that come with most IDEs it might be overkill

Best bet, start following the tutorials on the Sun/Oracle website, those should give you a good heads up.

Also, as always invest in a good book such as "Head First Java"

Anything specific, ask in here, most of us don't bite ;)

Don Bailey wrote:... I have a iMac 2.4 GHz and can run Windows XP through Parallels 5...

As Bear said, there's no reason to run Windows for Java. In fact, you'll probably find it easier using the Mac OS because the JDK should already be set up for you. Just dive in.

See this thread in our Mac forum to get started.

And just use a text editor with syntax highlighting, like Textmate or similar. Fighting an IDE would be overload at this point--it's best to learn the basics first then jump into an IDE a bit later.

Don : Welcome to JavaRanch. It looks like you're ready to go. Use your MAC, stay
away from IDEs for now and start with "Head First Java." One thing to add is that
the SCJP books, also by Sierra & Bates - very popular here, will be a good next step,
but not until you have some basics under control. Good luck and be sure to come
back when you need help.

Jim ...

...

Thanks to everyone for all your help, I think I'm going to like it here! I'm so new, I was trying to dl java SDK from Oracle w/o realizing that I had it already installed on my Mac

. I have the "Head First Java" book as well as the "Just Java 2" guess I'm ready to go. I will appreciate any and all words of wisdom and/or advice! Regards, Don

I would have to agree with the above, use a plain text to start, getting to see the nuts and bolts of compilation will help you a lot later on. An IDE can do more harm tham good in the beginning as with auto-fixing you can get your code to compile without really knowing what the errors were.
Good luck, its an exciting journey

Try Notepad2 or Notepad++ or jEdit as text editors if on Windows. On Linux there are several nice editors built in, eg Kate, gedit. These all give you helpful features like automatic indentation, bracket highlighting, etc, which you don't get in the Windows built in editor.

On the Mac, I recommend TextWrangler.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in--it is much appreciated. It's kind of daunting to try to pick up a brand new skill after 50, but I figure in a year or two, I'll be another year or two older no matter what I do, so I may as well get started!

Get a good book like HeadFirst Java, it will teach you Java without IDE.

Mark, I took your advice and got TextWrangler (actually BBEdit) and man, that was a great tip! Very simple but powerful--I wonder if they're looking for sales reps?

I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Don,

All the best with your Java journey. The forum & ranchers are always here to help.

James Elsey wrote: Also, as always invest in a good book such as "Head First Java"

Jim Hoglund wrote: ... start with "Head First Java."

Hebert Coelho wrote: Get a good book like HeadFirst Java, it will teach you Java without IDE.

This is the best thing you can do starting out with Java, used them myself!

Got the Head First Java book. As a matter of fact, that's how I learned HTML and CSS--I am a huge fan of that series. Yesterday I picked up a copy of the JavaScript Bible, 3rd ed. by Goodman, but it's a 1998 edition. Is that still relevant or will it just be too out of date?

Much of the basics are the same, but canonical JavaScript programming has changed a *lot* in 10+ years. I'd ditch it and aim for much more modern JavaScript development methodologies.

Are you trying to learn Java or JavaScript? Because the two are completely different.

I'm actually trying to learn both! When my head gets tired of one

...then I switch.

Don Bailey wrote:I'm actually trying to learn both! . . .

Java questions here, please, and we have another forum where we discuss JavaScript.

i know its to late to say but

Welcome to JavaRanch.
Great journey ahead.Best of Luck.

Don Bailey wrote:I'm actually trying to learn both! When my head gets tired of one ...then I switch.

Well good luck to you!

and welcome to the ranch!