Which OS is the best? Which are you running?

[zrm34]

So far i have Win 95, 98, 2000, and XP Pro and running Win ME. Out of all these, I'd say that Win Me gives me the least compatibility problems and alot less tension on my brain. As for perfomance, I think XP is better than all, although it does require a more powerful computer, not to mention RAM. (sorry for those still stuck under the GHz barrier) :(

[kingofa]

i totally agree....when i switched from win98SE to WINME....so many of my headaches went away especially when it came to multimedia. I'd love to switch to WINXP....but i've learned never to buy the first version of any Microsoft

[zrm34]

I AGREE TOOO!!! Microsofts first version OS has too many bugs. WIN XP is proof!!!

[zergboy5]

I'v used both Win 98 and Me and found them to be compatible but unstable. I just moved to Win XP pro and it's much, much more stable but it is a killer on your video card and ram. I'v never seen a OS improve with a move from a TNT2 ultra to a Gforce2. My bigest problem is that my two computers are k6-2 400 and 550 resuluting in slugish preformance.

[Comage]

I've used Win98SE and found it to be pretty good (stable if you are able to tweak it). Moved on to Win2k and I am pretty satisfied by it, except for a few little problems here and there which nobody else seems to have encountered.

WinME is very resource-hogging and buggy. I myself wouldn't touch ME. It shouldn't even be released at all. I guess they just wanted a product to fill up the shelves before Win2k was released. :)

[NDC]

My vote goes to Win2k and XP. Sure XP is a new OS and needs some SP's. This is something most OS's go through. As Win98 or any OS that uses Win9x kernel such as Win98SE and ME, I've found them to be very unreliable in many areas. (1) Stability, (2) Memory Management, (3) Multi-tasking. Only thing I can really say that's good about Win98 is gaming compatibility. Windows XP will shortly replace Win98 even for gaming...

[wizard101uk]

I was usin Me and found it great. Then I upgraded to 2000 PRO I think this is a superb OS now. Went to XP alround good but to new for me right now I'll wait until at least service pack 2 is out.
But for me right now I have Win 2000 PRO, I think this is the best OS for me anyway.:cool:

[Ka0ticSH]

My vote goes for win2k and win98se.
i've had some bad experiences with ME, i believe its mainly cuz of some old trashy hardware i ran it on.

[ggilmour]

Me has done wonders for my system.

[wizard101uk]

I liked ME, had no problems with it going down once in the time I had it.
Which was from the day it came out until Nov 2001.
But one problem that I found and it has been proven is the fact, it's not as good for gaming as Win98SE.

[ecke]

Slackware Linux is what I use. It fits my needs very well, so I guess it's the best in my opinion. Great serving capabilities and playing the occasional game (want Neverwinter Nights now!) and surfing also works great.

[Kurylo]

WinXP and WinXP again.

[Toejam31]

At the moment ... Win2K. With the Second Service Pack and all the patches, security fixes and updates.

For the fastest gaming and better compatibility with older software ... Win98SE. But for stability and the ability to run a superior file system ... the clear winner: Win2K.

WinXP will probably end up being the champ after a Service Pack or two is released. But right now, due to the length of time the OS has been around, there are still too many incompatibilities with certain programs for my taste, and there are still quite a few companies that need to get their drivers released and/or updated.

A similar situation occurred when Win2K was first released ... although it was really a worse scenario in many ways, and the OS wasn't nearly as stable initially as WinXP is right now.

But as long as I can run an updated version of Win2K with less problems, on more new hardware configurations than WinXP, I'll have to vote for the older OS.

I wouldn't run WinME for love nor money. The worst non-Plug & Play support I've witnessed in any of the different incarnations of Win9x, and the System Restore Feature is a buggy mess. Not to mention being a memory hog of the worst order. Yuck ... all the way. And if I'm going to run Win9x, give me some kind of access to DOS, please, without needing to mail a user a boot disk. I like formatting from the Command Line.

My Pet Peeve: OEM WinME systems. Not my idea of "telephone" fun.

But, hey ... my opinion + 35 cents = a quarter cup of lukewarm coffee! :D

Toejam31

My Rig: Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy (http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847)

[fishninja007]

WinME was one of the stupidest things I ever did with my computer. Right now running Win2k for most stuff (office, web-browsing etc.) but dual boot with Win98 for Starcraft (which doesn't like Win2ks TCP stack for net games). I'll give XP another few months to mature then probably go to that.

[chris307uk]

1st xp-pro,2nd xp-pro,3rd xp-pro

[NDC]

Nice system you got there, Toejam31! :)

[BlackThorn]

Right now I've got Win98SE, Win2K Pro, and Mandrake8.1 on my machine. I've yet to install XP, because there's no way I'm messing with that activation ****. But I managed to secure a copy that doesn't require activation, so I'll install it and try it when I feel like it... :p

And as for ME... I took one look at it on my Uncle's comp and immediately promised myself I would never degrade my machine to that sort of abuse. :D
I like formatting from the Command Line.
Heh, that's the only way I format, unless it's a floppy!

[Toejam31]

Originally posted by NDC
Nice system you got there, Toejam31! :)

Thank you, Sir!!

:cool:

Toey

My Rig: Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy (http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847)

[rjjessop]

Now add up the price of Win95, Win95OSR2, Win98, Win98SE, WinME and then finally WinXP Home. If you went the pro route, add the cost of WinNT 3,4,5 2000, and XPpro. If a company sold you a car that didn't work right, they would do a recall and repair it for free. The halfassed 'patches' in each edition were too little too late, and often made things worse. XPpro is the first OS that does even close to what M$ claims, yet almost every feature you look at within the OS is a rip off of some poor innovative company that M$ is bringing to it's knees. My **** is sore and my pocket empty, how about you? If WINE for Linux ever becomes a strong contender, I will format and junk my M$ disks once and for all, since M$ won't even allow me to sell the copy of Win2Kpro that came with my new Dell, which I never use since XP came out, because of thier forced licencing agreements that I didn't even agree too!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! KILL BILL!!!!! :mad:

[wallie_x]

I've ran all three BIG ones 95, 98 SE, Me and now XP. Almost all of my systems have been AMD w/Via chipsets. M$ does not write software with anyone other than Intel in mind, so my systems have been tempermental, to say the least. The only good that came out of it was the fact that it FORCED me to learn more about my computer and how to manipulate the OS. The easiest to tweak is Me, cus if you blow it bad you can always use the system restore. To me 98 SE was just as unstable as Me so the best was Me after I'd learned from my 98 SE headaches how to tweak it. Xp's good but I hate the hardware monitor. Due to these M$ gestapo tactics, my system won't boot after simple BIOS changes because the hardware gestapo thinks my systems a new computer. BAD IDEA BILL!! We need more competition in this sector of the industry. Bill's company does stiffle competition and yes steals ideas from companies they've smashed - but the goverment lets them. The law suite's a joke.

[Ka0ticSH]

The law suite's a joke.

yes...yes it is :)

[Steve Peoples]

Win ME............never a problem.........Win98.........problem after problem after problem.....WinXP..NO WAY!!

[gibsinep]

runnin 98se right now. Rather spend the 100-200 dollars on hardware and not a new Windows version

[suzuki1]

win2000 pro

[malachicaesar]

ive used em all, too many OS's to list really.

XP is my fav, been on it since build 2505, and havent ran into any problems, best thing is I havent installed 1 driver, and havent ever rebooted my machine.

Anyway, I know what the best operating system is...

Its called HA Linux.
The only OS that supports Hot-Swappable Processors.
Yes, take out your old processor and put in the new one without restarting your machine. Too bad its commercial only. Maybe one day.

yes its real, motorolla runs HA Linux.

other than that I would advise anyone thinking of upgrading to XP to visit the windows xp site at www.windowsxp.com and check your hardware configuration against the usable hardware list on the site. If you find all of your most needed hardware on these lists, try it out. if you dont like it, in the setup it will ask if you want to back up your old system so if you choose not to use xp, you can take it off and use your system with the os it had before, and loose nothing. favorites, old programs and all.

if the setup detects software that will not work with xp it will warn you

WARNING!!! if you have pcanywhere on your pc you will not be able to upgrade to xp.... take it off you dont need it... read about REMOTE DESKTOP CONNECTION its great!

the firewall in xp kinda sucks, but its just as good as blackice defender and zonealarm, so use it if you feel safer behind it.

you want real protection its a hardware firewall or nothing at all.
besides, you dont need real protection unless you have valuable info or a populated server.

Ive said too much already. :)

[BobViper]

ALOHA

RE: rjjessop & wallie_x ~A little spacing in your posts would make them easier to Read~Ex.malachicaesar
Mahalo:D

Subject Worlds Best Os?No Doubt The Envelope Please............
And The Winner is~Windows 2000 Pro Yeah....and the crowd goes wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All Win9xers\me are is beta programs on the way to the development Of The Win2k\Xps Superior series:cool: !

However Xp is still a Baby and while its future IS Superior
(- Activation of Course)
Its current lack of software support leaves it lacking.

Best Beta is win98se!However still lacking in TO many ways!

Win2k is lacking in only 1 feature from the Betas and thats Win98se's Auto reg backup and repair was ToooooCooool!~
But since Win2k is Sooo Strong it doesn't need that ability as win98se often did if you install\remove software often.

I can run more progams in the background WithOut hurting performance on one win2k machine than I did with 2 98se's networked together!!!
Currently running 248MBs of programs in Ram(785max) with No noticeable perf drag:D !

My favorite Power test is to open and load web pages in The Worlds Greatest Tabbed Browser!NetCaptor!
With 98se I maxed resources out at 248 open and loaded pages waiting to be viewed by clicking the tab!!!!!
Try that with Win2k and take it to 500 Loaded and Waiting!!!!!
I still could have gone more although I was getting low on resources by then but I got tired of counting the Tabs!!!

Both Win2k and Xp can be loaded into fully built systems,2 nics and all and it will usually install with only the timezone questions........WOW!!
Of course both have dislikes of some older video cards etc..
But who wants to keep running a 4Mb video card when you can up to 32mb for $35~time to get a Job!

Finally if you read this far~Wow~Yes I did try linux just last
weekend Finally.
Both a new RedHat 7.1 and older SuSe 6.4 failed at different levels But thats a different and longer story.
I will be trying mandrake tomorrow as some suggested~

However if it was a Win2k install I would have been up and running instead of reading and wondering!

ALOHA~BobViper

[AndreRIO]

I think I am going to win this one! :c) :D


I have msdos 6.22, windows 3.1, windows 95B, windows 98se, windows me, windows 2000pro, windows xp home and windows xp professional.

ps with windows xp i never crashed

[Ratsmail]

I Have ran Win 95 1st ed , 98 1st ed & Me on all of my systems,
and Im running Me on My Abit kg-7 Athlon 1.4 (266) Radeon 64 DDR VIVO system now. I have Had win Me for A while now but always regarded it as **** made for OEM morons , that and it used to chrash my Abit BX2.0 700mhz PIII Voodoo3 system all the time, as well as the friking harry home owner "System Restore" feature. I mean in my win 98 systems I have my Recycle Bin turned off all files are deleted the 1st time in a manly manner in a manly way , :) what is this sissy ***, system slowing hard drive cluttering dumb *** lame brained thing called "System Restore" doing booting at start up! But after trying ever set of drivers and options for my Radeon as well as upgrading and replacing .dll's in my system folder trying to get the excellent Flanker 2.5 flight simm to run without crashing. I decided to try Windows ME again . I can say this besides running Flanker 2.5 after finding out how to turn off System Restore Win Me is about 3x's as stable as Win 98 ,which is not saying much,but It crashes about 1/3 of the time as Win 98 and has several convince features that the 98 series does not have. As ffar as XP go's It's not compatable with my (great sounding, you sould hear Il-2 Sturmovik in A3d it's almost A whole different game.) Aureal Vortex 2 based Turtle Beach Sound card, which Creative Labs did A wonderful job of destroying Aureal (I'm sure M$ helped being EAX is **** compaired to A3D,M$ profits being threatend also). Any scumbag wall street type or lawyer would be proud of the way you can falsley accuse a company of Patent infringement knowing you lose but the cost of the defense will break the company that has A better porduct than you. It's what makes America the steaming loaf of A country that it is at times,but I digress... :mad:

BTW to turn off "System Restore" you must get to Control Pannel/System/Preformance/File System/Trouble Shooting and the very last box in the whole friking applet you will see "Disable System Resotre" . Do this soon as you install the OS after the second boot so you don't get more megs wasted because You can not delete any of the hidden "_Restore" folders or thier contents and they will keep filling up evertime you boot un till you disable "System Restore"

[Ratsmail]

BTW NetCaptor Kicks ***!!!!!


http://www.netcaptor.com/index.php

it's nonags 30 day (that is 30 24 hour days not 30 calander days) shareware now

[Praetorian]

Linux Mandrake 8.1 - Athlon system
FreeBSD 4.4 - K6-2 sytem
Windows98SE - Celeron system
Windows95 - Pentium system

I like Mandrake the most. I've run Red Hat 7.2 and I like it, but its not on my box right now.

[Ka0ticSH]

I believe Linux > all other OSes.
Especiall HA Linux, as mentioned above, and other distro's like mandrake, redhat. They're all good.

[SearchSkillzzz]

I hear that 2000 Pro is really good, I'm thinking about trying that over xp!:rolleyes:

[BlackThorn]

Yeah, 2000 Pro is pretty good.
Me, I've used the whole gamut of Windows OSes.... and I still like 98 the best. I hate not being able to use DOS if I want. Just a command line ain't quite the same. Oh, and if you think XP doesn't crash, think again. I've crashed XP many times.... At least 2 or 3 just in the last week. It happens. XP still just doesn't cut it for games... it's really not a replacement for Win98 until it does.

Oh yea, ME's a joke. A poor joke at that.

Linux is pretty sweet... I use Mandrake 8.1. The only complaint I have so far about this one is it's failure to recognize floppy drives. Quite a number of people have had that happen already under this realease of Mandrake. (including myself...)

[Mad Al]

Win 2000 (1,2,3)

[JohnC]

Hi,

I'm currently:

DOS 6.22 on an old '486 RIP/Print Server
Win NT 4.0 Server - on my Dell XP-590 (P-90) Server
Win2k sp2 on a P-667
Win9x on a P-233 mmx and P-400
Win XP-Pro gizillion patches #1 on a Dual P-866 machine.
Solaris 8 on my Sparc 10.
MAC OS 9.1 on a U-MAX G3 workstation.

(I didn't realize I had so many active machines at home :D )

Of all the OS's I think Win2k Pro is the most stable and successful outside of Solaris. Tried Linux, but since Solaris came free with my Sparc - who cares. The Sparc never crashes and the system security is great.

I've already crashed and burned WinXP-Pro. It's kinda sort of, but not quite Win2k - too much pretty interface to be valuable - too MAC like. I tried disabling the fancy interface, hoping to get the "classic" win2k look. The system didn't run any faster and there were menu items that I had to hunt for. It's not cracked up to what MS was saying it was. When XP gets its SP2 it might be better.

I never went to ME! I saw the dumbed down system support it had and stayed clear of it. I've had to deal with a couple of ME machines. Both had OS annoyances beyond belief - usually because the control panel and network items are dumbed down and the user wanted to do more than there is to do it with.

John

[Dodge]

I have used 95, 98, 98se, and XP Pro. I have tried out ME on my Moms PC, (She has a Compaq, so I dont know if the problems are with ME or Compaq)... But it really sucked on her PC.......

Out of all system I have had the best luck with 98se and XP. 98se is great if you do alot of tweaking and Remember to back up the registry regularly... But, I like XP Pro the best. I haven't had a problem with anything except a compatibility issue with my modem. Got an External Modem, Problem solved.

XP has alot of great features. True it does have its problems, but it is the most Stable OS I have used.....

My system specs are

HP Pavillion 6553
New case with 250w PS
466mhz Intel Celeron Processor
256mb's of Pc100 Ram
66mhz bus speed
13 gig Quantum Fireball HD

[namrak]

I'll throw in a couple dimes worth here. For current OS that are used, Win2K Pro is a solid OS to choose because it combines the right amount of security and support for many current games. Hell, it even runs Typing of the Dead fine. :D
Win98SE is the best OS for its maturity and compatibility for existing software. This is the OS for Joe Public, unfortunately, its not the latest and greatest which means its a goner sooner than later. I would rather use MS-DOS before using WinME. As for WinXP Pro. This OS could certainly use a service pack. As a lab manager for a training center, I had a hell of a time configuring the pcs to talk and play nice with each other. Microsoft sure as hell locked down that OS and you bet...its definitely secure, to a fault. But I will say that it works just fine as a standalone machine, but its definitely more troublesome in a networked environment.
We decided to switch back to Win2K on all our pcs because of its security and stability and familiarity. I'll give XP another try after a service pack or two.

Linux would rock as well because its free and extremely stable, but they don't have everything I want. Namely, the support of game developers. If it wasn't for Loki, Linux would only be a passing interest to me. Games aren't everything, but it does play a role. Anyway, I jump over to SuSe Linux from time to time, but Windows pretty much cover everything Linux can do plus have the widespread support for games. For a pretty penny of course.

[joe_shmoe]

I use Slackware Linux 8. Strongest, most stable system for desktop and network that I've found. Installed, configured, and I haven't shut down my machine since. That was 3 months ago. Used Debian for a while, but just didn't like it. Suse 7.3 is a GREAT system for the home user, and the price is right. ISDN and DSL setup are a piece of cake!

On the proprietary side, I still use WinNT. Frankly, Micro$oft hasn't released one piece of software in the last 5 years that is worth upgrading to. I installed Win2K, but after 2 blue screens of death from which I couldn't recover, I was pretty much fed up. But, hey, I still think OS2 is a great system...

[Mad Al]

Hi all,

well just reading all you guys have said I'm glad that I moved from WinMe (pre-installed on my system when I bought it) to Win2000 Pro.
After getting the SP2 and installing it everything works fine.

What has Microsoft done with XP - there should be a law against releasing tame animals into the wild without proper training.

Mad Al

[Khaotic]

Windows 98SE is my os on my comp. I'm going to make it a dual boot with Mandrake Linux. I like the features of 98, it doesn't pretend to be secure *a firewall and a lock on my doornob work for me* and it doesn't crash anymore for me.. most the time.

I have to use ME XP and 2000 at work, and I like the feel of comfort with windows 98. I like knowing where everything I need to manually fix is (the registry, startup folder, firewall settings...) and I have no desire to fuel M$ in they're idea the if you buy an OS it should only go on 1 of your computers. I've got a win 98 disk (burned) and several versions of linux (burned).

I don't like M$ monitoring my hardware (xp registration) so I'm not going to pay 300$ (Canadian) for software to track my whereabouts.

But enough ranting. Cherio.:)
Sean.