.NET or Java?

Just saving a link here to an old (2006) forum discussion about whether to learn .NET or Java in a career path. Some points in the discussion worth reading and remembering. I'm leaning to Java, because I know it better, and .NET of course gets one into the Microsoft world. Blah! The discussion favors Java. It's more widespread than .NET and C#, and it's on more platforms. NetBeans is free too vs Visual Studio. Microsoft products though are pervasive in the workplace, and Microsoft always seems to be able to throw its weight around.