One thing to note, C and C++ and Java are much more cross platform compatible, as opposed to VB which isn't.
Personally, I'm trying to learn C++ now. After careful review of the options, VB is an overloaded field, and c and c++ aren't. Java doesn't run as fast as c or c++ so, in the end I had to choose between c or c++. The pro's are divided on which to learn, so I went with c++ as it is more object oriented.
BTW..... Linux has everything I need to play with ruby, c, c++, python, perl, php, and more..... all FREE
(sorry guys, had to plug the penguin !!!
)