Hi all. Regarding the gui versus shell interface discussion, I'll just say that it's not an either or proposition. Some of the decission about which interface to use is personal choice, and some of it is based on what tool fits the task you are trying to accomplish. But sadly, some decissions get made because of fear and lack of knowledge. There really are folks out there who are afraid to learn something new. They use the excuse of everyone else is using something different, or I just don't have the time, as an excuse for not taking on the task of learning a new computing interface. And those are the folks who will be left behind. If you need to use a computer to accomplish a task, then you should know as much about the computer as possible. If you have to use a different interface to access that computer, then you should learn about it, and not make excuses. There is no substitute for knowledge, and there is no substitute for a willingness to learn. Someone here used the example of reading multiple files under Windows as being easier to accomplish than under a shell. It isn't necessarily so, but beecause the person who used the example seems not to have a grasp of how wild card characters work, or about the shell select statement, he perceives the Windows interface as being easier. A good craftsman always uses the right tool for the job, and that means that he is fully aware of all the tools at his command. Incidentally, it is not just blind people who use the text console shell interface. There are lots of sighted folks who use and love the shell interface too. It's time for blind folks to think and do for themselves, instead of being held hostage to the fears and misconceptions that Microsoft has pawned off on us. If the gui interface works for what you need to do, or if that's what you really prefere to use, go for it. On the other hand, if the text console shell interface gets the job done, then use that. but learn both, and make your decission from a strong knowledge base, rather than from misconceptions, fear and lack of knowledge. Gene
