The New "Best OS" Poll

[sacha35]

XP Pro with a few tweaks for performance, but vista Ultimate for the Wow factor.

[XenatR]

Windows Me 4 Life

[deepsilver]

Windows Me 4 Life

[X] Windows Vista Ultimate x64 on my mainrig
[X] Windows XP Pro on my notebook
[X] Windows Server 2k3 Enterprise Edition on my homeserver

[nn_step]

[X] Windows Vista Ultimate x64 on my mainrig
[X] Windows XP Pro on my notebook
[X] Windows Server 2k3 Enterprise Edition on my homeserver

it all depends entirely what you are using and what you are hoping for performance wise. Try to run plain 2000 server on 32MB of ram and you might as well start your computer before you go to bed and pray it starts by lunch.

[Clay]

Depend on which rig. I had to cast for XP pro. Though for some things I actually prefer win98se. I should go back to learning linux though.

[Daveb2012]

WINDOWS ME!

[Makubex_GB]

As others have set Win Pro and Vista later on.

[[XC]thewildblue]

For speed I used to love Windows 98SE over ME and NT4, Then came along 2000 pro and I used that on my main rig until 2002 then making the change to XP PRO when I had enough ram to equal the performance of 2000. Been running XP PRo until feb this year when I moved over to Vista Ultimate.

Overall my favourite OS has been Windows 2000 pro, runs like a rocket even with only 256mb.

I have a load of systems that are currently running most of the current OSes

Laptop = Vista Ultimate 1.5gb
Main rig = Vista Ultimate 2gb
Home server = 2003 Server 2gb
Work Server = 2003 Server 1gb
2nd Rig = XP PRO 2gb
3rd Rig = Dual Boot with fedora + XP PRO 2gb
4th Rig = Vista Ultimate 1gb
5th Rig = Ubuntu 6.04 1gb
6th Rig = XP PRO 512mb

The other systems that I have spread out for family members are all XP PRO with the exception of 1 Vista ultimate.

[experttech2007]

Why pay more for XP Pro? Home is cheaper and the only functionality missing is the ability to attach to a Domain.

Security features + unmatched Remote Desktop (I know there are 3rd party tools, but RDC simply rocks!)

My fav is Win XP Pro simply because of the widespread software and drivers availability.

I recently tried using Knoppix and its nothing short of amazing. It detected all my NTFS drives in ACHI mode, loaded my network and almost all the apps (browser, utils, zip funct. etc) I needed in about 5 minutes - AWESOME! Win XP cant even come close to this. It could also detect my USB thumb drive instantly. In fact Win Xp doesnt even have native ACHI drivers for the 973 chipset!! BAD!

if you havent tried it, you MUST!

[Jimmer411]

What no Dos 6.11?

[Burnmaster]

For me Xp Pro and Server2003

[RealTelstar]

Server 2003 and then Vista Ultimate, especially if i had a bitlocker capable motherboard.

[1badhabit]

XP Pro on my Notebook, Windows Vista Ultimate x64 on my wifes rig, and XP Pro on my main rig until Vista is a little more mature.

[nfm]

Gentoo / Ubuntu GNU/Linux, not Linux, Linux is just a kernel, not operating system. I also run Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2. That's the only one Windows that is reliable. OpenBSD sucks.

[andyaycw]

I just switched over to Vista about a month ago, and have been regretting it ever since. I don't recall ever having so many stability problems or encountering so many bugs even when XP first debuted.

One more vote for XP pro! : )

[Pandaz3]

While I do have Windows ME on a machine...I don't think it has much to offer. I have tried many flavors of Linux and have Suse 10.2 on one now, I am kinda Luke Cool toward Linux in general. Most of my systems have XP Home w/SP2, a very good relatively economical OS. On my main two though I have Windows XP Pro X64 (Or "X64" as most people call it) and Vista Home Premium 64. I just like having a 64 bit OS on a 64 bit machine..... it sooths my brain even if there is no advantage.

I had not been happy with the trial versions of Vista 64 (Or Vista 32) so I just bought the new Vista with some trepidation... but it seems to be paddling along fairly well.... No Games on it yet...That might change my opinion and Outlook 2000 works kind of crappy, but the new "Windows mail is improved over Outlook Express so I don't really need Outlook 2000

[[cTx] Nooc]

Kubuntu is by far the my favorite OS (ubuntu with KDE); I didn't have to install any drivers, even for my 8800 GTS, played CoH with Wine straight outta the box, Doom 3 and ET work perfect, symantic package manager is just awesome, FAH worked like a charm, rock stable, KDE is beutiful, Beryl is beuatufil and is better than stupid Aero, everything is perfect...I can't stop saying good things about this OS

oh, and all the games that I've tried work as fast in Wine as they do on Win. just mentioning.

[ExodusC]

I voted XP Professional, XP64, and Linux.

[ingeborgdot]

Perhaps think about changing the title? I'm using Vista Business currently, but don't feel enthusiastic enough to call it or any other OS for that matter "the best."

Maybe a more neutral, "What OS(es)" do you run on your main rig?

What do you feel enthusiastic about? Don't use it if you don't like it.

[ingeborgdot]

Kubuntu is by far the my favorite OS (ubuntu with KDE); I didn't have to install any drivers, even for my 8800 GTS, played CoH with Wine straight outta the box, Doom 3 and ET work perfect, symantic package manager is just awesome, FAH worked like a charm, rock stable, KDE is beutiful, Beryl is beuatufil and is better than stupid Aero, everything is perfect...I can't stop saying good things about this OS

oh, and all the games that I've tried work as fast in Wine as they do on Win. just mentioning.

I have never used Ubuntu, but what would I be able to use it for? The main hard use of the machine is video editing. Where do I get drivers for my software?

[Exitium]

Favorite OS would have to be windows xp pro. I do use Vista Ultimate on my main rig and some of the features are nice, but the drivers need some work. Also running linux on another rig, specifically ubuntu and slackware.

[JAWS]

I have never used Ubuntu, but what would I be able to use it for? The main hard use of the machine is video editing. Where do I get drivers for my software?

I personally love ubuntu. I have it installed on my Toshiba laptop, (about a year now) which the whole family uses. It's one of the best versions of Linux out there. First, I would download the live cd and see how compatible it is with your hardware.

edit: the community support base for ubuntu is by far the best.

[Krid P]

I am amazed Linux received more votes than Vista did lol
Woot!

[ludeboy12]

none of those....my vote is for Win Server 2008

[Brother Esau]

I only switched to XP in 2004/2005 (by then SP2 build 2600 was out), till then 2k was a better alternative for me, so I'll do the same thing whit Vista or other OS, cause I'm not M$ Beta tester whit a commercial OS like Vista (same as I wasn't with XP) .

PS.They should pay you guys for testing Vista, not the other way around.

My Point Exactly!!!