-bash-2.05b$ uname -a
Linux blueberry.trouble-free.net 2.4.27-grsec-tfadmin #1 Wed Aug 11 17
+:42:08 EDT 2004 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
-bash-2.05b$ wc -l posts.txt
  47622 posts.txt
-bash-2.05b$ wc -l < posts.txt
  47622
[download]

[grumpy-fuzzball.mit.edu] ~=>uname -a
SunOS grumpy-fuzzball.mit.edu 5.9 Generic_117171-05 sun4u sparc SUNW,S
+un-Fire-V440
[grumpy-fuzzball.mit.edu] ~=>wc -l test.txt
      15 test.txt
                                                                      
+      [grumpy-fuzzball.mit.edu] ~=>wc -l < test.txt
      15
[download]

X:\myPerl\test>uname -a
WindowsNT EPHARMA013 0 5 x86
X:\myPerl\test>wc -l < disco.txt
     13

X:\myPerl\test>wc -l disco.txt
     13 disco.txt
[download]