What is the best Operating System?

[jakethepeg]

I have got about £300 to spend on an Operating System. I have two machines and a printer, that I would like to connect together (and to use on the Internet).

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[feck_it]

I would suggest using Windows ME, as it can help to home network your two machines and printer and also provide a shared connection to the internet..This all depends on the specification of the two machines involved and the speed of your net connection though.

If you can provide me with a few details via mail we will be able to help more http://www.sysopt.com/forum/redface.gif)

[jad1097]

The best ones right now are Windows 2000 and WIndows 98 Second Edition. Stay away from that ME ****, I have not been able to get it to run for more than a couple months without major problems.

[NDC]

I also vote for Win2k! And so will you once you start using it! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[elroy]

I bought ME the week it came out and have used it ever since on 2 machines and it works great. It seems some people have good luck with ME, some with 98SE and some with the first 98. Maybe it's the difference in the hardware they have or the programs they run. I've used 95, 95B, 98, 98SE and ME on my home computers. I would say Windows has gotten more stable as the new versions have come out but I never had any real problems with any of the versions.

[jad1097]

Luck being the keyword.

[ts0nda]

For me Windows 2000 works like a dream. I had ALOT of problems with windows ME but i have finally got it running stable (knocks on wood)

[Spartacus]

win2k...no questions asked..... Stay away from Win Me.... Maybe put Win2k on the main computer and Windows 98se on the other one

JAG

[hallam2003]

i also recommend running 2K, it's not nearly as crash happy at 98, and especailly not like ME, it might not be as user friendly as thos others, but it's so much mosr stable, BUT,i repeat, BUT, if your into gaming pretty big time, you might have some trouble in 2K. it and NT like to break games for whatever reason, XP is supposed to take care of that, but that'll be in october, hehe, maybe. Anyway, you might look into a dualboot, 2K and 98SE, but since you don't have that kind of money, just use 2K, it's great, you'll love it.


Hallam

[daveleau]

Stay away from ME. Get either Windows 2000 Pro, or save your $500 and get Red Hat Linux 7.1. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Dave

[spidey_joe80@hotmail.com]

Hey isnt 300 (pounds?) like 600 bucks thats a lot to spend I've heard ****, and have had **** with win98 So go with win2k

[Dputiger]

Actually, I've used ME for a while and been quite happy with it. But, 98SE is also an excellent OS.

2K is best for stability, worst for gaming.
ME is the fastest of all three, probably the least stable.
98SE is slower than ME, faster then 2K, and probably most stable for gaming, but lacks some of the features of teh other two.

[acid_burn~187]

Yeah, I agree daveleau, get a linux network going. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif Won't find anything better, cheaper, faster, more customizable or more stable for the home PC on the planet. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

~Paul

[jad1097]

I don't know about you guys but I can get W2K for $160 local, OEM. Dave only a fool would pay $500 for W2K pro.



Jake you can get W2K for £269 inc VAT or the upgrade for £179 inc VAT. I am sure if you search around you can find a better deal.
www.jungle.com (http://www.jungle.com)

[daveleau]

I know, only a fool in the US would pay that, but that is what the UKers have to pay. 276 quid is close to $500. I think 300 pounds is right at $480 (276 quid is $441...much higher than what we pay).

[bdunn13]

keep all of your money and just use linux with iptables.. you can have as many computer on the net from your network as you want... all at the same time..... if you want to play games, then find a friend who has a version of windows they are not using anymore(I am not saying pirate the OS, I am also not saying don't pirate the OS). Its perfectly legal to transfer his license to you. Can you imagine how many Serial #s for win95 are no longer in use? Recycle Microsoft trash so they don't take over the world.

[jad1097]

269.00 GBP=380.783 USD

GBP=United Kingdom Pounds
USD=United States Dollars

Everything over there is inflated compared to our prices.

Linux is fine if you want to spend a bunch of time learning it. It is not an easy OS to learn.

[jl123]

Win98se works fine for me. And I'm a person that installs a bunch of stuff on their computer. Windows98se has run pretty stable. I've only seen 1 BSOD in 5-6 months. I have experienced lockups but that was quake III's fault.

Hey anyone who knows linux well...Is there a starup disk I can use to get Linux mandrake installed on a machine that cannont boot to the cdrom?

~Joel

[xyliu]

If it comes with computers, just keep ME. Otherwise stay away from Win ME if you plan to install it.

Windows 2000 is much much more stable than both win98 and winME.

Use Linux or BSD if anyone has more time and less money. Linux is better than any M$ software, although windows 2000 is catching up.

[Mntsnow]

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/014426.html

[jad1097]

jakethepeg, you can reply here by clinking on the reply button.

[MrBaseball]

I used win98 first edition for 4 years and it kicks *****. Just ungraded to 98se and it is just as good. I never have used ME but I've heard it slows down your system a bit.

[CMonster]

Windows 2000 -don't forget to purchase an additional license if you plan on installing it on more than one computer.


Not meaning to sound like a jerk but here I go: If you have to ask which OS to get then you definately need Windows. If you didn't have to ask then you would be installing Linux and pocketing the rest of your cash or spending it on juicy hardware.

[seanc]

Windows 2000 works great for me. I haven't had any kind of problem with it yet. I tried Millenium and it was horrible. My internet connection was dead slow (slower then the dialup that it already is), I couldn't get a single game to work, I lost my e-mail and other data. Most of all I lost an entire long weekend to that piece of garbage.

Windows 2000 is very well designed.

Just my $0.02...

Sean

[AndreRIO]

i think the best operating system is going to be windows xp!

[jansson_markus]

I bet the best OS will be WindowsXP. From what I have read about it, it seems excellent: pretty secure and easy.

But you want the best? Try OpenBSD http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif The safest OS there is.

Markus

[Insthink]

Hmm, was thinking too about getting W2K, since im getting a new system. But me its for gaming, tribes2, Asherons Call, Half-Life and people say W2K doesnt work well on games or not?

And i heard too that w98se doesnt detect the extra ram after 128m or so?

[PrimalX]

Hmmm.. It's all boiled down to what u need the OS for.

I've been sticking with win98SE since it's arrival http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[wyvrn]

Heh you asked a loaded question. Anywho here is my two coppers.

Win2k is the best MS OS (I don't like the XP license agreement) all around. Though Win2k will run most games, it is still not as good at it as Win98(FE or SE). If you are not a gamer then please use Win2k, you will be happy you did.

I am about to install Mandrake 8.0 (if I can come up with the funds for my new box). I think after a few days of playing around with it it should be running the way I want it. I look forward to being able to use a free OS that comes with multiple free Office programs and a load of other free software available. Long live open source! If you are up for a challenge, and like free stuff, go Linux!

[bdunn13]

From what I have seen/read XP will add alot of limitations to the user. IE, MS is still trying to shove all of their products down your throat. They microsoft does not "innovate". All they do is force you to use something while destroying the competition. Most users are "skilled" enough to know 90% of MS products are pure trash. Competition adds to innovation and user choice. Hopefuly Linux will continue to improve and eat away at the MS desktop/server share. <br><br>
Someone was correct above in saying something to the effect, if you have to ask, use Windows... I agree.. but I never said buy it. You can find a free version out there legaly. YES LEGALY. I would hate to think how many license of that trash continues to be unused..

[OC Guy]

I love Win 98se and Win2000 Pro. I like them so much, that i dual boot both of them!

[Knuckles]

I have recently changed from 98se to win2k on my laptop PIII-500 and my desktop PII-450.
I don't think anyone has metioned that 2000
is a memory hog, add ram at least 64mb.
It rocks 2000 has yet to lock up in 6 months. As far as gaming I play Halflife on both without any problems. My desktop has a Sony 8x4x32 CD-RW, no compatability problems at all. I did update the drivers for my Voodoo3 3000. Windows 2000, very stable.
knuckles.
P.S. Email me if you are interested in a recycled version http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif. scanall@yahoo.com

[hesher289]

"They microsoft does not "innovate". All they do is force you to use something while destroying the competition. Most users are "skilled" enough to know 90% of MS products are pure trash."
Those statements are definately made by an absolute idiot. Make sure you post the URL
to your site, so we can all download your personally designed cutting edge OS. I bet it makes windows obsolete in no time. Of course you will not have to force anyone to use your system, I bet its state of the art design and supreme stability does all the convincing,right. Isnt there a Brittany Spears chat-room for you to moderate somewhere.

[NDC]

If you don't like MS, just don't use it! It's that simple, right? Or is it not? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Hell, Windows keeps me happy since majority of the applications are for Windows platform... As for that new deal with Office XP, Grrrrr. I just won't use it!

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 06-27-2001).]

[club_med]

I vote for Win98SE.

cm.

[mowtown75]

You guys have really got going....elroy is right. Surely we all know it is the many variables that make a pc stable. All hardware coming together with the os will decide!! I have had two machines and ME and 98se were bad on one but great on the other, so don't forget the variables, there is heaps, as Cmonster will tell you....just bring Linux into teh equation!!

[Savant]

Personally I like slackware, I much prefer config files over a gui-configuration tool, but if you must go with ms I'd have to say 98 (not se, se and me seem less stabl and slower for my uses, probably that newer version of ie that I dont use anyway) out of the 9x series. Win2000 is better, but in my limited experience doesnt do well with games (some of you will say but wait! I play games on it! Good for you, if it works thats great, but it crashes on them for me.)