I personally like Windows XP, and I get a lot of complimentery softwares from my dad who is associated with Microsoft. It's pretty sweet. I've tried Linux before and don't like it to much but it beats Apple's operating system. What do you think?

First of all, which Linux? There are hundreds of distros.

Second, anything you can get from your dad, you can get from the Internet.

Third, MACS ARE PRETTY. BLASPHEMY!

let me tell you about the differences btwn windows and linux.

Windows;
Windows was primarly created for end users usage. Therefore, it was build with extensive support for gaming, graphic and sound. Also, friendliness as also a big concern in windows.

Linux/*nix family
Primarly created to serve. Used for servers such as web, telnet, fileserver and irc. Therefore, it was built with extensive stability and network support.

With that reason, i would like to say that there are no "the best OS". The question needed to be answered is "What do you want to use it for". Gaming-then windows might be your choice. Web Servers-then linux is the best option.

Gawd. Stop talking as if Linux is a OS. There are hundreds of distros! Haven't you ever heard of Games Knoppix?

What do you mean by that, Linux is more OS than Windoze is.

i agree with "wanhafizi" there isnt a best OS only what you want to use it for. theyre are hundreds or thousands of lunix distros about on the internet use for all sorts of purposes.

That's very obvious but Windows XP is way to go for home users as most programs are built to work with this OS.I agree that is built with many security flaws but Microsoft is taking measures to correct that but it is too late as they have already earned themselves a bad image in front of the world.They have entered the antispyware market by purchasing GIANT Antispyware, gave it a new name and interface and about to force their way into the antivirus market agressively by integrating both security software into SP2's Windows Security Center, which will benefit us but not antivirus/antispyware vendors.If you are still using SP1, April 12th will be the last day you can see it since Microsoft will be forcing all internet enabled computer using XP OS to be automatically updated to SP2 whether you want it or not.

Source please.

If those bastards do that, they have a MAJOR problem ... Btw. I don't believe they can force me, since microsoft.com is blocked by my router. So it doesn't even reach the server forcing the upgrades.

Anyway, if it comes out, i'll make a fix

my personal opinion is that windows sucks and i only have xp on this comp and all my others i run linux and i love it

because linux is http://kernel.org
which is basically a huge set of drivers, and very low level software. preety much useless to most people on its own.

linux only becomes usefull when its paired up with a totally unrelated porject http://GNU.org

Origonaly, all us linuxers would have been using GNU/Hurd.
but the Herd Kernel was far from finished, so som clever individuals started using the GNU operating system, but with a different kernel, the Linux kernel.

Linux started life as a *sit in* while Hurd was finished... but linux was such a huge sucess, that GNUHurn never really made it.

but their are plenty of other threads discussing this topic
lets try not to repeat ourselves.