Diane Said:

Is mobile development a good start for someone who wants to become Java System Developer?

We Answered:

JavaME is a subset of JavaSE and ME takes technique to make an application. You can't just code the way you have made java work with EE and SE. If they ever make JavaFX 2.0 and include Linux, then ME should fade except for very small footprint applications. JavaFX was demonstrating random access video which would revolutionize game, mobile and appliance applications. Futher, JavaFX was planned as a final byte code executable. One of the problems is Linux doesn't have a defacto video player like Mac and Microsoft embed into their platforms.

Spring and Hibernate are part of the EE world. The choice when I was at school was taking the route of a coder or as database administrator. I chose coder when perhaps in hindsight the DBA route would have been a better career path.

You do Android, mobile, ME, JavaFX to broadcast your own commercial product. Some AppleStore apps have produced 5-figure cash flows in less than 6 months. I suppose mobile is the coder career path. Which to pursue? Hmmmm.

But, all the online jobs for Americans that I read about have to do with server-side, dealing with commerce. Which makes sense. The moneybags can't outsource financial transactions.

Good luck.

Rafael Said:

What scientific or engineering major would be best for a career in developing solar energy systems?

We Answered:

Engineering of some form, probably electrical.

Firms will also work with physicists. I finished my Physics BSc last year and am now researching solar power for a masters. Physics based work is more 'upstream', I'm working at the research & design stage. An engineer would more likely work further 'downstream', eg on panel installation etc.

Most power companies (eg in the UK: Atkins, E.ON, Wind Prospect, nPower) will take physics, engineering, chemistry or maths graduates.