I have had DOS, Win3.1(1), Win95, Win98SE and WinXP (and few hans-on with Win2k, WinME and Linux).

Worst of the list was WinME, it's not only plain ugly, but it's the worst one when it comes to stability (crashed after installation ).
For speed, I prefer Win98SE, it's light and simple (same goes for Win95, but Win98 is an upgraded Win95).
When it comes to hardware, I prefere WinXP, plug&play has never been that easy (hardly no drivers for USB stuff needed), altough it's not perfect (but what is ?)

Win3.x was great too, I liked it a lot back then (I couldn't work with DOS, I was a bit too young back then ). I think I'm going to dig up my Win3.1 floppies (yup, still got the whole thing on floppy, I even have some office apps on floppy ).

DOS, couldn't work with it back then.

My conclusion is WinXP, it has several features that I can't miss today (image & fax viewer is one of them, but also hardware support, most support atm, ...).



Last but not least, LINUX, it's great, but it's too hard and I'm too lazy atm (things take to much time to be done on linux, it takes me a week to do something on linux while I can do the same thing on windows in a day).

Haha-

The best version of Windows is Linux.

Seriously- Windows is only good if you really must use it (i.e. school computers, work computers, certain applications). Linux is twenty million times more reliable and stable than Windows, not to mention it comes in every flavor of the rainbow!

Plus, you can use OSes like DamnSmallLinux on almost any computer. If it's just your PC, everybody recommends you switch to Linux.

Never tested the Vista, but Windows XP with SP2 is the best way to have a safe place to work. And I do remember the old days I used to spend in Windows 3.1, I was only 9 those days! Kept all day long playing in the PBrush and other strange apps.

I too remember playing with paintbrush, back in those days it was like a wonder . Aaah, those old days .

I've forgotten to mention Vista, I've tried and older beta version (beta 1), but I didn't like it at all, M$ made this version too much for the 'new' users. I don't need all those explications, tips, hints & txts (same goes for SP2), I know what I have to do and I know what I'm doing (that's what I now like about Win3.1x & 9x, no annoying and useless hints & tips).

@austiniskoge: "Linux is twenty million times more reliable and stable than Windows", this just depends on how you configure windows & linux. With the right apps, windows is almost absolutely stable (I don't have virusses & other crap and the only crashes occur due to hardware (overclocking) errors). The same conclusion can be made for linux, if you malconfigure it, it won't work, it just depends on what you do with it.
"it comes in every flavor of the rainbow!" maybe this is the problem with linux, what version is best for me ? There are too many choises.

I'm currently using Windows XP - but as far as Windows OS goes - I'd have to say that Windows 98SE was by far the best I'd every had. Infact - it never crashed once in the 5 years that I used it. Now, that's saying a lot for any OS. Also, it was very simple to administer - and considering it was the first OS I'd ever operated, it worked out just right for me. Then again, at that point in time I'd usually be using only one application at a time, since I was inexperienced at multitasking on the computer and I was also mainly concerned with content production on Word, using spreadsheets & where absolutely necessary presentation applications or web page design. Windoes 98SE never let me down with these. Again, the system I was using was 700 odd Megs of Intel CPU with a mere 128 MB RAM (which was great in those days) and to top it all - a 2 GM Hard drive.

I have a bit of appreciation for Windows XP professional too since, now a days, I'm always multi-tasking with upto 10 applications open at any point in time, on a machine with 1 Gz processor, 55MB RAM & 20 GB hard drive. (and I'm not evenconsidering the 30 odd processess running in the background). The hang rate is pretty low and I'm yet to actually face a system glitch (which has required me to actually have to dig into the system to figure what went wrong). Windows XP has been doing me great service for a good 5 years odd now, and I've yet to actually suffer for it.

Funny, because for me, it's just so easy to make choice with which Linux distro to use. For me, that'll be SuSE Linux and I have used it since a month after I tried my first Linux installation. It's the 3/10 distros I've tried.

You're correct about choosing the correct app, but these app takes more time and effort to combine in order to make Windows stable. However, on Linux most of the security is installed automatically or part of the basic security.

xboxrulz

Windows XP is nod bad when u know how to use it ... Only needed programs installed ... Wiruses and trrojans free ...and no pr0n sites wisited of course lol;D

I usually dont need to reinstall windows in 6 months ..(know people who resinatal WInXP 1 time in 2weeks lol)

the key is to know what u need and win Xp works good

Well, I like the Windows XP GUI, but beyond that, there's not really anything in it that I really prefer. Windows 2000 isn't bad; I'm using it right now and like it. I used Windows 98 a lot before, and now I'm really starting to suspect if it's true that 98 has better security. After all, during the period of time I was on 98, there were never any security problems. On 2000, I got a couple of viruses that I eventually got rid of through PC-cilln. k

As for my favorite...I guess I'll have to say Windows 3.1. Not because its practical or anything, but just because it's amusing to see an older version of Windows. And I guess it plays a role in nostalgia too.

On the practical side, I guess I prefer 2000. Its GUI is really annoying, but it hasn't crashed ever since I started using it.

This post has been edited by Arbitrary: Jul 17 2006, 12:19 AM

I was a huge Windows 98SE fan, but then, some stuff just come up, and I could not use them anymore, they lost support, not just from Microsoft, than from other software manufacturers... After that period I've used Win2k and when XP came up, I was hardly transfered to them, and one period of time I was always coming back to win2k... Later when I've realized that basicly win2k and winxp are pretty the same, only that xp looks a bit better, I've stayed with xp. So you are guessing what Im using now

This post has been edited by finaldesign: Jul 17 2006, 07:17 AM

Although I own the beta versions of Vista, I'm not really going to comment on it. I noticed several 'lethal' bugs (such as crashing when trying to read several DVDs) and it isn't gold yet.

I only started using Windows ever since 98; however I loved XP the most.
Compared to 98, plug n play finally worked (rather than plug and pray).

Featured great stuff added in ME which didn't really get noted because the version was abysmal. Bad cohesion, riddled with bugs. Talking about features like Restore Windows, which I have used a lot.

Much easier and better to better clean up and organise computer. I had fewer troubles with XP than the other versions, and these were fixed in a rapid rate. I'd never go back from XP to, let's say 98. Many (as well as I did when trying out beta) might prefer xp over vista because of the solid product. MS didn't have it easy to compete with their own product.

It would also be, IMO and at least for me, go back to older versions as they hardly support many new technologies crafted over the years. Especially internet wise.