raw_input / console I/O question

[Hugh]

I am using python 2.3 through the PythonWin program on windows.  I
would like to create a console-based interactive session.  The program
raw_input is almost exactly what I'd like, except that whenever I call
raw_input(), it pops up a window on my screen.  I'd much rather have
it read from the interactive window.

Is there something out there, as easy as raw_input(), that I can use?

Thanks for any clues!

-Hugh