GUI is fine for most things. I run Windows XP on my lappy. But there are still some stuff that is just easier to run via the command prompt. The ability to just add a simple "/X" to the end of a line is just cleaner, faster, and easier then trying to do that in any GUI I've ever used.
Today especially GUIs have gone insane. Shit like Windows 8, the Metro crap they want to put on my 360, big flashy buttons are a step backwards. It's like the damn GameCube controller with the big giant red button. Just push here and forget about having any real control over your computer.
For starts, Metro is also designed for the touchy poke interface Mobile WORLD! Good luck CLIing on a tablet or a phone. I know I don't want to type in a bunch of jive from the command line on a retarded touch keyboard with no tactile feedback.
anyway, GUIs are simply a front end for CLIs. So the whole argument is kind of stupid. You can't quickly highlight an entire list and delete stuff with a CLI, but you also can't type del *.jpg with a GUI. BFD. The end result is the same. You deleted a buncha JPGs.
GUIs were created so that MORE people could get into computers. They're meant to be intuitive so you can just turn the computer on and get shit done, even if you're new to it. They were pioneered by a bunch of dorks that are legit as f*ck. Punch Card Legit. If they had the same mindset as you, we'd all be fingering our a$$holes while feeding punch cards into machines because it's how you truly used a computer at the time.
They pioneered the GUI concept so the mass majority could actually enjoy their computers, and computers as a whole could evolve into something cooler.
command line inputs are awesome. So much quicker to get stuff done exactly as you want it. It's not IBM's fault most people are lazy and ignorant of how to truly use a computer these days. GUIs have ruined people.
It's not always quicker. Depends what you're doing.
and, yeah, it is partially IBMs fault. Ever hear of OS/2 ? Duh?
I do CLI shit everyday in Linux/Windows both at home and at work. So, I am not ignorant about how these things work. I use the crap when I have to.
I'm glad there are GUIs for a lot of system-related tasks. I don't want to sit and fingerbang in VI or Emacs and dickoff with a bunch of commands just to do things and then accidentally make a mistake and f*ck up something I was working on. It can and will happen to everyone.
GUIs didn't ruin anyone. The people you speak of likely wouldn't be bothering with computers without a GUI. They'd be too overwhelmed.
unless you're browsing the internet on Lynx, you should probably get off the CLI high horse. I doubt you are doing anything at home in the CLI that would impress anyone except 13 year old script kiddies on IRC.
EDIT: Oh yeah, the real topic:
The stuff you're going to deal with is kind of archaic/clunky, but, it works.
And heck, since it's so old, I bet any problem you have will be googleable!
You'll be fine. It'll get the job done.
