"... also since nobody actually voted for an older OS, I assumed no person would actually prefer an older OS to newer ones, when compared to XP, which seems to be the master of all OS's."

Well, here's a vote and something to skew your statistics; I really liked 98SE. See my post #3 from last June here; http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=51814

I initially disliked XP because of all the "security" (actually a misnomer) in it. With 98SE I could maintain my machine from DOS. I could defrag, scan/repair partitions, "ersae my tracks", basically get around all the "protection" which Microsoft deemed should be there for me, and delete what I wanted to delete, not what MS said I could. And do it much quicker in DOS, outside the windows environment.

I upgraded mainly to learn XP as 98SE was dying with respect to (mainly) software, and of course support. I've been active in many help forums for several years (since 1995), and to maintain my "hobby" of helping people with their machines, I had to learn the "new" O/S which was now current. And since I've learned about XP, I now can get "around" the Microsoft BullSh|t just as I did with 98SE.

When you compare the "Updates" which have come out for XP against the number/severity of Updates for 98SE, this in itself demonstrates (to a degree) how stable 98SE was. Then incorporate into the stats the ramifications (problems encountered) of applying the updates with both O/S's, again 98SE proved to be more stable.

It should be stated though that XP is a more "complex" O/S, therefore more problems can be expected.

Vista every time I prefer the 64bit version but am running the 32bit until there are more software and drivers. I personaly have found it to be very stable and have had no trouble with it , it makes XP look old fashoned (which in the IT world it is). I use XP at work but now having used Vista for a year at homeI am very happy with it.

I never had much exposure to 98SE, but what I did I enjoyed as a kid.

I prefer XP cause I have been using it ever since it came out and naturally am familiar with it. Vista's a nono for me right now mainly because it's a memory hog and it's still too new.

However, I am impressed by my sister's Mac OS though. Fancy stuff but not sure how well it works.

Yes, i have Vista at home too but we usd to have XP. It works very well!

Can someone explain to me what OS is? I have heard of the others but not this particular type. New/ old make?

Hi K_9 OS stands for operating System eg Windows XP, or Windows Vista

Ah yes, would make sense. I just have not across that name yet... Thanks