You are right CrashedAgain, I didnt mention that "form" of apt-get, but, if you want to "upgrade" a few things, you need to put that "shiopping list" all on the command line, it is a lot easier with the GUI of synaptic, and it will do the "command line" for you, adding the "shopping list" onto it, "behind the scenes".

I did the apt-get thing, a few times having as many as ten, to fifteen, "upgrade" packages on the command line, and I can easily say, synaptic is a lot better, in that regard. If we want to get "down to missing information", no one has mentioned the -s command line option of apt-get... If you feel something is going to "possibly" be dissasterous, you provide the -s option on the apt-get install command line, and apt-get will do a "dry run" or a "simulated" install, and hopefully, tell you before you bugger your system with what you are attempting. If the "simulate" appears to go OK, then, just remove the "-s", and do the command again, doing it for real.

apt-get is, by far, the best way of getting packages, finding them, checking on new releases, searching for something, checking for dependancies, and even testing what they may break, but a front-end is not shabby either...