>>> as for the performace, it's not an issue any more for Java IMO
For apps that one normally runs on a PC (or similar small system) I would have to agree. There still are a lot of areas where performance is a big concern though.
That aside. Java is a good language. And, as everyone else has said, having a number of tools at your disposal is always a good idea so you can choose the right one.
The only disadvantage that Java has in my mind (when compared to C++) is that its standard library isn't as well thought out.
Cheers