Newbie Java/OOP question here, which is more correct?

1) Define a public instance field and access it like:

Object o = new Object()
o.field1 = "hello";
System.out.println(o.field1);

2) Define a private instance field and use set/get methods to access
it:

Object o = new Object()
o.setField1("hello");
System.out.println(o.getField1());

I prefer to make it public, less typing all around, but being my luck,
it isn't the correct way either :)

thanks

-- brian