Windows 98
Overview:The 2nd version of the Microsoft's consumer OS.was developed to take over from Windows 95 with all it's bugs removed.
Pros:More reliable than previous versions .Easier to use,Great software support.
Cons:Still crashes as much as Windows 95
Reliablity: 2 out of 5

Windows ME
Overview:The most up-to-date version of the cash flow cow that is Microsoft's consumer OS.Aimed at anyone who can hold a mouse and stab a keyboard .not secure enough for server work,though.
Pros:More reliable than previous versions .Easier to use,too.Great software support.
Cons:Where's dos gone?Some drivers issues.
Reliablity: 2 out of 5

Windows 2000
overview:the latest carnation of the Microsoft high end OS ,looks a lot like windows ME,but far more complex to use.Favoured by boring server types,it's pretty stable and doesn't crash that much.
Pros:stable NT core.lots of support and software.
Cons:Not the easiest to configure and use.Expensive.Some incompatibility problems.
Reliablity: 4 out of 5

Windows XP
overview:Formerly known as Whistler,Microsoft's next OS is its much hyped conergence between the consumer and server version of Windows.Supporting skins and built on the NT core,it should be out after summer.
Pros:NT core.funky skinnable interface,sercure,easy to use.
Cons:Not finished,questionable protection systems,thre versions could confuse,compatablity?
Reliablity:Unknown.

Linux
Overview:the free unix-based OS that has taken the world by storm ,much loved by geeks who like to know how everything works,most commonly found as an internet server.
Pros:painfully stable server,free ,great support infrastructure,scares Microsoft.
Cons:flaky GUI.nightmare to configure.Not quite consumer worthy yet.
Reliablity:5 out of 5

BeOS
Overview:Well known but little used OS aimed at muiltimedia types,not as well supported as it's developers would like ,specialised in streaming media.
Pros:Personal edition is free,has some neat tools,emulator can run Windowssoftware.
Cons:Limited hardware support,very little software available.
Reliablity: 3 out of 5