| Actually I would never personally go for Java myself anymore unless of course what you have to make is Java.
I'd use C# for that - or Visual Basic.NET if coming from a Visual Basic background. However C# and VB.NET are not terrible different.
C# however, retains the C++/Java-ish notation/syntax so it is easier to interchange between those then it would be to go from VB.NET to C++/Java - but again it is "just" syntax and the commands which you can find in any reference document.
The "common consensus" is that once you "learn" one programming language, the second and third and onwards will be much easier. This is because if you lean the fundamentals, changing syntax and commands aren't as big a hassle.
So basically - IMO it doesn't matter much which language you start out with, if you have the interests for programming. |