[tacticalogic]

I often have to deal with massive numbers of files, text, and data. I couldn't imagine trying to do what I do in windows. Something that is a 5-minute affair with unix, would be an all day task, if not more in windows, because it just doesn't come with the kind of basic tools for manipulating data that are standard fare in any Unix.

What basic tools would those be, and what would be the advantage for the vast majority of people who don't often have to deal with massive numbers of files, text and data?

[zeugma]

The "average" user doesn't need much more than email, a browser, and an editor/spreadsheet, all of which are readily handled under linux with no need whatsoever to go to a command line.

Some others would want something to manage photos from their camera. Plenty of tools for that. Some are actually pretty good from an organizational standpoint.

Other folks would have a large MP3 collection they'd like to manage. There are more options for this than you can shake a stick at. There are also several servers you can configure to stream audio to your local LAN that doesn't take much knowledge to get working.  Biggest drawback for this is no itunes support. I think you can make that work, but I've never had the need or desire.

For me, the fact that windows doesn't have anything near as powerful as sed, awk and grep is a deal killer, but then, my computer does actual work as opposed to playing games.

OTOH,. If you dig games, you can always use Steam.