Regardless of Microsoft’s original motivations, C# has evolved to become a really good language. But it definitely remains very similar to Java, on which its design is based.

As the Sun vs. Microsoft battle over Java drags on, Windows developers wonder if it's time to write off J++ and adopt Microsoft's 'Java killer,' C#.

Although C# has many Java-like qualities, Microsoft executives say C# is not the company's response to Java. But Plummer said it's impossible not to compare the two languages.

Java inventor James Gosling says he isn't losing much sleep over Microsoft these days, despite the software giant's effort to stem Java's popularity with its own Java-like language.

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced the availability of the first beta version of a new tool that will migrate Java code into C#, Microsoft's proprietary Java-like programming language.

Java applications can convert to C# using the Microsoft Java Language Conversion Assistant (JLCA). Code that calls Java APIs can convert to comparable C# code that uses the .Net Framework.