Apple

set x to choose folder with prompt "Choose Folder to Count Files"
set filecount to do shell script "find " & POSIX path of x & " ! -type d ! \\( -name \".*\" -or -name \"Icon*\" \\) | wc -l"
display dialog filecount

why not :

set x to choose folder with prompt "Choose Folder to Count Files"
tell application "System Events"
count (get files of x whose visible is true)
end tell

My version gets all files including those in sub-folders, but apparently that was not what was asked for. That can be changed with the -depth n switch. Just offering it as an alternative.

Jim Weisbin | C.T.O. | human