Topic awaiting preservation: Another I want to learn Java thread ;) (Page 1 of 1)

Hi guys

I've been through the faq a bit, and some of the threads that came up in a search on this, but I still have a question. I would like to learn Java with the ultimate goal being getting a cert. From what I've seen Thinking in Java would be my best starting point for learning the core language. My problem is that there seems to be so many different "areas" of java (servlets, jsp, swing, web services) to learn that I'm not sure where to point myself.

I would also like to make a career change to some type of web dev/programming job eventually which is also one of the main reasons I want to learn java and get certified, but I find it hard to learn something without being able to try and apply it to something specific as I go.

Any suggestions, thoughts, or pointers are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Butcher-

I have Thinking in Java... I haven't opened it (it came with one of my java courses). Instead I've been using the JDK documentation and O'Reilly's 'Java Examples in a Nutshell'

The book I learned Java with was... Java Software Solutions , Second Edition by Lewis and Loftus. I thought it was pretty good.

I don't like the way Bruce Eckel teaches in TIJ... It's just...sloppy.

"Nothin' like a pro-stabbin' from a pro." -Weadah

' Headfirst Java ' is an excellent way to get into java programming.

Thanks for the replies!

synax:
Thanks for the recommendations. That Java Software Solutions book looks good but man it's a bit expensive. I'm probably going to grab the O'Reilly book though.

norm:
Headfirst Java is on a UPS truck somewhere on it's way to my house.

Thanks again.

-Butcher-