Introducing PowerShell (MSH) - Windows answers to linux shell?

PowerShell is built on top of the .NET Framework and replaces the old

process of using text to pass data like the current CMD shell. PS is a

scriptable language that provides an alternative to the manual changes

you make through a GUI. It is more powerful than Perl or WSH, although

those two technologies can help with automating a lot of tasks. Let's

look at what PS is and is not and hopefully it will help clear things

up a bit.

http://www.windowhaxor.net/index.php/2007/07/31/introducing-powershell-msh-windows-answers-to-linux-shell/