echo

 
H:\>date
The current date is: Mon 02/15/2010
Enter the new date: (mm-dd-yy)

H:\>echo off
date
The current date is: Mon 02/15/2010
Enter the new date: (mm-dd-yy)
echo on

H:\>echo hello
hello

H:\>

Turns the command-echoing feature on or off, or displays a message. 
Used without parameters, echo displays the current echo setting.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_%28command%29