How important is having this with a host. ie: tera-bytes packages don't give you this unless you are in their package 4 and above.

For example the following page gives some things which can be done with ASP
http://htmlgoodies.earthweb.com/beyond/aspdir.html

Can most of these be done just as well without ASP?

ASP is a programing language like perl, php, python, java or any other language. It is a NT based langauge, and the Linux version, called ChilliASP is very expensive to License. This is why, Tera-Byte and others only give it with there High End packages [ tera-byte is Linux and Cobalt Raq based ].

What you can do with ASP can be done in PHP or any other language. As such, there is no plus or minus in having it, other then that it is ASP. :)

Thanks Kunal

Is CGI used for similar purposes?

Yes, Very much.

ASP is a bit like CGI but MUCH MUCH easier to use. It is therefore also less powerful too.

I use ASP a lot, at work and at home and does most things I want to get done.

To be honest most ASP is used for writing web front ends to databases (Access or SQL Server usually).

As was noted above it's only really used on NT.

It all depends on what you're trying to do really :-)

Mark
OPENHOSTING INTERNET SOLUTIONS
http://www.openhosting.co.uk