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If you don't want to use an IDE (like Visual Studio or Eclipse), then you can at least use a text editor with syntax highlighting.

I understand - sometimes you just want to do some quick editing without waiting for some bulky program (like CS5) to load. When I just want to use a text editor, I like Crimson Editor because you can change the syntax highlighting to whatever language you're using, and you can create your own macros to save some time. I also like to use PyPE for python projects, and a few other text editors for various things.

Notepad's simplicity is nice, but it lacks some key features that every coder should have.

But really, for anything other than HTML, it's best to use a real development environment.

A good place to start is to learn one of the major languages. C++, Java, Python are good starting languages. They work on almost anything. A good book, website, tutorial, or class can help you a lot. Most people will start with console applications. No fancy graphics, just text on a screen.

A good plan might be to learn in this order:

Lesson 1: Display text on a screen. "Hello World" is the usual first program.
Lesson 2: Get user input and do stuff with it. The obvious next step :)
Lesson 3: Do some operations. Most classes will have you make a calculator at this point.
Lesson 4: Read and write to files. This is very useful.

Then learn how to use abstractions. Finally, learn algorithms, theory, and how to make your code more efficient.

The problem I see with most new coders is that they want to create huge games right away. In reality, most programmers stay with console apps for a while. Getting into visual stuff is a big leap, it's best to wait until you fully understand the low end. Then you'll be ready to go big.

The language you choose should really depend on the project you're developing.

I love C#, but it's mostly useful for Windows Applications. If you want your applications to work in another OS, perhaps it's best to choose another language.

Most people will have a hard time running your applications if their computer isn't set up the same as yours. I usually have to include the .Net framework when I distribute C# apps or the user won't be able to run it. It can be annoying trying to make sure a C# app runs on a variety of computers.

Aside from compatibility issues, C# is pretty easy and you can make applications quickly. if you use Visual Studio than IntelliSense will do most of the work for you (just type a period and choose your methods, functions, and parameters from a list).

The best thing to do is to learn many languages. The more languages you learn, the easier it will be to learn even more languages (you'll start to see similarities). Once you have a good understanding of multiple languages you can choose the best one for each job you do (and sometimes you don't have a choice).

I like that C++ works on almost anything. If speed and multi-platform compatibility is necessary, I'd choose C++. For a nice windows app (maybe a business app with lots of menus and buttons), C# is my choice. Both work well with DirectX, which can be nice if you're making a game.

Both languages will be around for a long time because they're both good for different reasons.