There isn't a best OS, each one has it's up and downsides,

windows OS <-> Linux
I won't bore you with the same comparisation everyone allready read 10 times. Just my constatations:
Linux is supposely more stable than windows and windows more userfriendly. I've been using PC's for over a decade, and I'm sure i'm safe to say that user-friendlyness and stability can't be combined for this simple reason, if it's hard to figure out, you'll be automaticly more safe in your actions, while when it's just simply clicking buttons and filling in textfields you'll be easier convinced that you do know what you're doing while you're not. Or even simpler "You have to be good at linux to know how to spank it up" and thus make it instable.

Windows has become this instable because the huge amount of poeple that think they know how to work PC's. adware, spyware are a directly linked to this imo.

Now I use windows because it's compability, while linux is growing to become as compatible it will take some time to get there. Altho I'm not a big fan of windows.

I'm convinced I'm pretty safe to say (since many ppl with ICT backgrounds clearly state the same) that XP isn't better as win2000. True it made life easier, hot plug and play... But that what servicepacks are for (unless it's an infamous XP service pack)
The real reason why I state win2k to be better than winXP is that it's the most stable windows version ever, why? because unlike XP it is designed to be an office OS, XP in an office enviroment would be dead wrong. I use 2k at home, It hasn't to much secrets for me. And I almost forgot, winXP just uses to much recourses to my liking, wich is eventually just another addition to XP's instability.

[color:"orange"] For those who skipped my rambling and got attracked to the orange: Linux is great but not applicable, winXP is for the lazy that don't mind reinstalling every 5 months, win2k is for those who realise newer isn't always better, and more features just bring more problems.[/color]

edit: come to think of it, this wasn't funny, just the simple truth...

It's one of these days...