Too many to choose from

[Moochie]

ok since the other section may have helped me with one issue now i have another. Which O S to buy? I have only used 98 SE to date, and would be interested in up-grading. However, I have heard so so many bad things about XP that I don't feel I want to use it, so can anyone suggest THE BEST O S to use, hahaha and since I know we each have our druthers I will welcome all suggestions and then choose. Thank you all
P.S. oh and any good site suggestions about how to use these paragons of operating systems would be nice too...

[mc2phat]

Windows 2000 or XP are the best Windows OS choices. Both are much more robust and stable than 95, 98, and ME. If you're going to be gaming, I'd go with XP.

[tomster2300]

For Windows go with XP. It's the most user friendly and it is decent. It's more stable than the other Windows versions, but it's still definately not rock solid. It's based off the Windows 95 kernel.

I dont know much about Linux or the Mac OS since I've always been a Windows user. I do know that Linux is not as user friendly, but it much more flexible in its configuration and such. If you have the know how then you can create a better OS through Linux, but if you dont stick with Windows. The Mac is more stable than Windows (and is better in my opinion), but it is limited in gaming. Sure, they do make most games for the Mac, but good luck finding them in your basic retailers. Apples are mainly used for video editing and such due to their stability and are overall usually better pcs, so go for it if you dont wish to do much gaming.

If I'm way off here please somebody correct me, its been awhile since I've thought about this.

EDIT: Forgot to add I wouldnt go with Windows 2000, since everything is configured for XP these days, plus with their new OS coming out later this year, (Windows Longhorn -- configured for 64 bit processors) Windows 2000 is slowly becoming out of date.

[bailey]

if your system can handel it, I would recommend xp-home.
I am not aware of any bad thing about it as long as it is compatable and installed clean.

[glc]

If you are not a hardcore gamer and all your software is compatible, Win2000 is the best compromise between stability and bloat. I still sell primarily Win2000 boxes to my business customers.

[tomster2300]

But isn't Windows XP more compatible with everything out today? Although I guess if he wants to continue using his older programs then Windows 2000 might be more compatible with them than XP would. I didnt think about that.

[Force Flow]

Actually, it doesn't matter. Both operating systems use the same kernel, so you will have the same compatability problems with older programs between the two O/S's.

However, there is the "run in compatability mode" option to help you with that.