can wxpython do this?

[Erick Papadakis]

hi, i am considering learning wxpython and have a few questions before
i
get into it to make sure it is worth it. 

1. what does it give me that java or c++ dont? is it cross-platform
too?

2. is it a good platform to develop desktop application in, given that
it
is a GUI app? how will i distribute it? is there any easy installer
that
will allow me to install python first on a layman user's computer
first,
then wxpython, then my own application? is this the concept of
wxpython
or am i missing something? 

3. does it allow me access to windows (or linux x-windows) native
APIs?
for instance, can i minimize my application to a user's desktop's
taskbar and have a right-click context menu on that taskbar entry?

4. do i have something like a browser control built in? i want my
desktop app to interact with my web server and display the response
just as if it was a browser (BUT with some more client-side richness
in features, hence the app to begin with). is this possible?

thanks very much for any ideas/resources that i can use to decide. 

cheers/.ep