If you want performance, then C/C++ or Assembly(!) is better. But, that takes a long time to code and debug.
In my opinion, for a good programmer, with good knowledge on libraries available and how to use them, C program is much easy(, faster, etc.) to develop(with power and performance) than Java.
Also assuming that in future we all will be using Linux :-), do we then need platform independent language?
Amish.