XP, no debate there. You will eventually upgrade to it, so you might as well do it now. It's solid and pretty. W2K is great, but with MS focusing all of its improvement efforts on XP, it would be a mistake to choose 2K now as it will be deprecated going forward.

Windows 2000 is a pretty solid system. I use it home and at work (I'm a software developer). My experience with Windows XP is limited, but it's supposed to be even more stable and have an ability to do "home things" better, like recording CDs and videos and playing games. I'm not a gamer, but if you enjoy them, then you might be better off with XP. Be sure to get a fast system though, and remember that processor speed is only part of the equation -- a fast hard disk and ample, fast memory are just as important.

People are going to start the inevitable "Linux is better" postings, and while Linux is better in many respects than Windows, it still isn't as versatile yet for the average home user. I've used Linux for years and love it, but I would never recommend it to my mom.

If you are a gamer like I am you should stick to 98SE, a lot of older games won't run right on XP and 2000.

Until someone (MS/other developers) provides the right drivers for my key apps/peripherals to run under XP, I'm not spending a dime for it.

Chipsets matter too. I don't know what's best of late except for the AthlonXP--VIA® KT266A chipset.

Dual-boot. How can you miss?

I am a mac user visiting a son right now with XP..it is awesome..He says he had to do alot of patching on it after he had installed it..but it is great!

How fast is a "fast, hard disk"? I'm also looking to buy and will probably go with XP. Thanks in advance!

ps: Love the sound of Daisy Cutters in the morning!

XP

Without a doubt.

I posted the stuff below on this thread and it sparked a huge debate. You might go there for some opposing viewpoints to what you've gotten here so far.

I just last week bought my new computer and I paid $50 extra to get Windows 2000 rather than XP.

Sent to me by a freind. I haven't gone through all of these yet:

Dear Family and Friends:

I'm sending you this information to balance the overwhelming tidal wave of hype coming from Micro$oft touting it's newest version of Windows, Windows XP, to be released commercially on Oct. 25. Many technology journalists are praising it's virtues, but you probably would too, if M$ kept sending you free software, and paid for your trips to "spread the word." The information I'm presenting here is from a wide variety of sources, including The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, USA Today, and The Economist. Just in case any of you are considering upgrading your computer's operating system to Microsoft Windows XP, I highly recommend you consider *not* doing it due to the underhanded tactics Microsoft has incorporated into its purchase.

Please read the following articles for more information:

Meet The Dark Side of Windows XP
By David Coursey, AnchorDesk
I have spent six months using, thinking about, studying, and answering your questions about Windows XP. My overall conclusions are positive, but there are some issues that either need to be resolved or that potential users may not know about or understand.
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ZDNet hoists the black flag:
LINK!

MS Controlling the "Activation" of XP
For the first time, Microsoft plans to force families to buy a separate, full-price copy of Windows for each PC they upgrade. Each copy is expected to cost around $100. Not only that, but the company's method for enforcing this rule, a system called "product activation," requires you to let Microsoft create and store a profile of the configuration of every PC on which you install Windows XP -- even if only a single machine is involved. This profile allows Microsoft to "lock" each copy of Windows XP to one specific PC. If you don't allow Microsoft to collect this information, your copy of Windows XP will simply stop working in 30 days. And even if you comply, your copy of Windows XP might still stop working at some point if (like me) you make a lot of changes to your PC's hardware.
LINK!
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XP Upgrade Cost:
LINK!

Office XP isn't a "must upgrade" for two reasons. First, if you're already comfortable with Office, there's no reason to break with your routine and spend more money. Second, this version of Office sports a hidden agenda that is less commendable than its interface improvements. It has a number of features designed to make it a launching pad for various paid Internet services Microsoft wants to sell, or help its business partners sell, over the next year.
LINK!

Groups Push FTC to Act on MS XP, Passport
The Electronic Privacy Information Center and a coalition of consumer and privacy groups have renewed their calls for Federal Trade Commission action to protect consumers from the privacy risks associated with Windows XP and Passport. In a letter sent to the FTC, the groups criticized the FTC for not upholding its statutory duty to protect consumers in light of the planned release of Windows XP. So who here thinks the FTC is going to block Windows XP? Me neither. The other remedies requested (toward the middle of the letter) are interesting, though.
LINK!

More information on the groups' previous FTC complaints is stored on the EPIC Microsoft Passport Page.
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USAToday discovers the new upgrade scheme, designed to milk every last cent out of those who've locked themselves into Windows:
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What's the cost of little or no competition? For some Microsoft customers, it's paying as much as 107 percent more for the software they buy in volume.
LINK!

Tech-report.com goes a bit more in depth on the same subject:
LINK!

MS discusses its plans to control how you compute (by the way, the license agreement for Windows Media Player now allows Microsoft to disable any software on your computer - you do read those license agreements, don't you?);
LINK!

DOE Issues Microsoft XP/Office Warning The U.S. Department of Energy's own computer-security watchdogs have a warning for Microsoft Windows XP and Office users who want to keep their work secret: The Redmond, Wash., software giant might be able to read their PC's minds. The Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC) - whose motto is "Keeping DOE Secure" - this week issued a bulletin warning privacy-conscious users that the Internet-connected bug-reporting capabilities of Windows XP or Office in combination with recent versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser could disclose sensitive data to Microsoft.
LINK!

Microsoft: The Gatekeeper of the Internet
Windows XP May Spark Ultimate Battle To Own The Internet C|net News.com is embarking on a seven day comprehensive report on how Microsoft is moving themselves into position to be "The Gatekeeper Of The Internet" through Windows XP. The first installment explains the basics of how this is going to happen: Reminders that last for days encouraging users to sign up for Passport, and how Windows will eventually resemble services like AOL.
LINK!

Extending Its Tentacles
The Economist has an interesting article on Microsoft's technology strategies that ends with a very astute comparison with IBM's downfall and resurrection in the wake of its own antitrust battles. "Microsoft's biggest underlying fear is that it will become like IBM -- a company that still has a strong business but no longer sets computing standards." As it launches an array of new products, the software giant is changing, and yet its basic instincts are staying much the same.
LINK!

File Extensions And Monopolies
File extensions are one of the tools used by Microsoft to extend their mind and market share. It's a very simple idea but its honestly something most people have never thought about. Definitely worth a read, and a few neurons to realize how it's really the simplest of things that will guarantee that this monopoly isn't stopped even if Microsoft's deep pockets didn't let them buy the law.
LINK!

Your Rights Online: Microsoft Shuts Auction Doors On Old Windows
Microsoft is keeping a more-vigilant eye on online auctions of old copies of Windows software, with people trying to offload it due to the upcoming release of XP. Also within the story is info and tips for donating a computer (and software licenses) to charity. (Charities must have site licenses for Windows 98 or newer!)
LINK!

EU May Fine Microsoft
The Wall Street Journal reports about a leaked European Commission document, that suggests that the EU may fine MS for anti-competitive behavior. The fine can be up to 10% of the annual revenue, or $2.5 billion and may include the demand to remove certain programs from Windows. The report harshly criticized MS way of taking influence in the case, even speaking of trying to mislead the observers. Regarding the report of the WSJ, European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said, that the case is still at a preliminary stage, since MS still has the right to defend itself at a hearing. Or in his own words: "To speak of a fine when Microsoft has not yet disputed the Commission's preliminary findings both in fact and law -- as it it's right -- is premature." Since the original is for subscribers only, take a look at Yahoo or the more detailed report from BBC News.
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Trade Group Asks British Government to Investigate Microsoft
Some of the UK's top companies are questioning Microsoft's policy on pricing. In an open letter to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, several of the top companies voiced concern at the cost of an extra £880m over a typical four-year investment cycle. No one from Microsoft has commented at this time, given the current state of affairs it's highly likely many companies will not upgrade or seek alternative cheaper solutions. Basically, a large trade group is asking the British Office of Fair Trading (akin to the FTC in the U.S.) to investigate Microsoft's price increases.
LINK!

And finally, a little humor....
Top 37 Reasons People Are Holding Off Buying Windows XP
LINK!

W2K. Robust. No license issues if you need to reinstall. Runs most stuff.

Mac OS 10.1

Re: "Be sure to get a fast system though, and remember that processor speed is only part of the equation -- a fast hard disk and ample, fast memory are just as important."

True - true. In this regard, go to PC World and take the Windows XP Rediness test to see if your computer is compatible.

Windows XP is the latest upgrade of Windows 2000 which was an upgrade of Windows NT. Why buy yesterday's software?

Well, I of course would still get a Mac, since they're a lot cooler than dull Windows machines, much easier to maintain, and significantly easier to keep working over time. That's what I'm using now. With the new Microsoft Office for MacOS X, you'll actually get a nicer Microsoft software experience using MacOS X, and there is no tiresome Product Activation system.

However, assuming you must stick with being one of Bill's slaves, here's my advice:

What is XP?

Basically, Windows XP is Windows 2000 + additional drivers + a somewhat spiffier looking interface + a number of features designed to make certain "consumer tasks" easier + Windows Product Activation.

So you can think of XP as a superset of 2000 - anything you can do in 2000, you can do in XP.

However, if you want to use devices such as digital cameras, XP has support built into the operating system, while 2000 does not. However, if you buy a digital camera, it will normally come with driver software that works with Windows 2000. Ask; if it supports Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4, it will probably work with Windows 2000. In other words, while Microsoft brags about the new features as something brilliant and new, they really aren't very new at all. Before, they were provided by device manufacturers; now Microsoft supplies them. But there's a catch, as you'll see below.

Windows XP and 1984

The only thing you lose when buying XP is that you have to use the notorious Windows Product Activation feature to turn on your software. Microsoft is cracking down severely on pirates and pseudo-pirates; if, for example, you have both a desktop and laptop at home, you will have to get one copy of XP each. It used to be that you could buy one copy of 2000 and install it on both machines; this was illegal, but unenforceable, and the practical upshot is that it's much more expensive to run XP if you have multiple computers.

Many people don't like the "1984-ish" style of Windows XP Product Activation, which requires that you contact Microsoft (via web or phone) when installing your software. If you are strongly against this, you should get Windows 2000 and plan never to upgrade again.

Constant product pitches

Whenever you use XP, you will be quietly guided into using additional Microsoft products and services. The software is such a living advertisement for Microsoft stuff that it's a wonder they don't give it away and encourage widespread pirating. You will be convinced to use Microsoft's authentication system (Passport, which looks about as secure as a sieve), Microsoft's Hotmail email service, Microsoft's photo processing people, and so on.

So if you resent being constantly inflicted with sales pitches during your day to day use of your own computer, you might want to stick with Windows 2000.

Better yet, make your next computer a Macintosh, or Linux if you're more technically oriented. I really don't think you'll regret it, unless you have huge investments in Windows software or need to use Windows stuff for work.

Hope that helps.

D

I would suggest XP for you. I wouldn't use it myself yet, but the more people using it, the quicker the bugs will be worked out and the drivers finished.