JavaEE questions?

First there is not much difference between the two except inclusion of more no of API's in J2EE1.5.Inclusion of enhanced for loop and some improvement in Collection API. Eclipse is the best.I use eclipse.As far as popularity is concerned, my answer is "i don't know".You can use any one of it. Yes , you need to install Eclipse.

NetBeans is better IDE to develop core java , swing , and J2EE technologies such servlet and JSp. It provide a flexibility to Frameworks such Struts and Java Server Faces (JSF). Netbean itself put entry in according configuation files. Limitation is it support Tomcat, JBOSS, Weblogic, JRun Server only. It does not have to support for WebSphere.. If u want to use websphere U can use MyEclipse.. It better IDE to develop J2EE based with different Servers.Eclipse also having same futures which netbeans have. But netbeans is user friendly to develop webapplications. Netbeans having gui editor for HTML, XML files.

Both are Enterprise Edition of Java. That is Java Web Technology. One can create Dynamic web pages by using J2EE technolgy. NetBean is more popular as J2EE technology comes along with the editor and moreover Netbeans is more user friendly when compared to eclipse. In Eclipse, we have to use lot of plugins to execute J2EE applications.