Windows XP was my favorite. It was easy to navigate and find everything we need. The very next one (I forgot the name) was a pain because of all the permissions we needed to give. The next one after that was better.

I'm now on Windows 8. I got the hang of it, but I still hate that split between the welcome screen and the desktop. Plus, there's all this junk I don't even intend to use on the welcome screen.

janus : You should try to delete at least some of those programs on your welcome screen if possible, unless that's even more bothersome for you than keeping it.

I'm surprised that Windows 7 is the most common reply for this thread so far. I thought there would be a lot more Windows 8 responses than Windows 7 just because nowadays more people prefer the newer operating systems than those who don't.

I honestly like windows 8.1 because it as a very modern layout, it is somewhat hard to use at first, but after learning how to use it I find it smoother than windows 7, and there is continuous support for windows 8 users so I do not have many things to complain abut as a windows 8.1 user, it also has a very neat search bar effect as teh results pop up as apps rather than just icons. The only problem with windows 8 would be its lack of users, so if any of the problems pop up there are little threads that cover solving the problem, however, like I said before the microsoft support helps out many of the windows 8 users.

I like Ubuntu (Linux-based) OPs better than Windows... so that would be my favorite. That being said, the games I play and some other things I do really need Windows, so I would say amongst windows, I like Windows 7 the best, followed by XP.

I prefer Windows XP over all the Mirosoft Operating Systems, it was the first operating system I used when I was 3 or 6 years old, and in 2014 I found it and installed it and relieved my golden days...

The reason I prefer it over all the other operating system, is well because its just awesome, I really like the helper dog (it can also be Merlin himself), he was always helping me to find files that I needed to find quickly, and yes, I know Windows 7 has a searcher too, but I found the dog more faster, which is something I like!

Also I have noticed that Windows XP doesn't blue screen that often, it's pretty weird, because when I use Windows 7 it crashes on me most times, but Windows XP doesn't, that's odd, but hey, that's cool!

MICROSOFT WHY DID YOU END POOR XP'S LIFE!?

HE WAS AWESOME, MAN!

I honestly prefer Windows 7. Mainly because it's pretty much the only one I have ever used, other than Windows XP at my school. But, I just find Windows 7 easier for me to use. Although, I would like to try Windows 8, I just don't have the money right now.

I would always choose Windows(to be exact Win. 8.1) over any other operating system. Because In my opinion the interface is easy to use, Since I have 2 desktop screens it is allays easy for me to just switch whenever I need to; also I think that apple has a "too" secret file system, because if I try to open lets say C drive it does not even show a window to all of your files.  So that's why its easy for me to use and you can access ALL of your files. 

I prefer windows 7, because windows 8 sucks xD I currently am using windows 8, and it is kind of incompatible with my current computer. It crashes every so often and I wouldn't be surprised if it crashed while I am writing this post xD

Based on my personal experience as a professional computer Technician since 1995, i can tell that there is not a preferred Operating System but there is right Operating System different for each kind of computer, based mainly on hardware of these ones (quantity of ram and power of cpu mainly).

I have Dos on a notebook of 1999 (Pentium 1 233mhz with 128mb ram) where i am using DosUae (i love emulating Amiga on very old computers), have Windows Millenium on a Pentium III 650Mhz 384 mb di ram (where i am using a old 16 bit version of Winuae), using xp on some different notebooks and on my secondary desktop computers (Amd Athlon 2800+ with 3 gb ram and Intel Pentium 4 with about 1 gb ram), using Windows 7 64bit on my most powerfull Notebook (Intel Core 2 duo 2.2ghz with 4gb ddr2 and 64gb SSD like hard disk) and on my first powerfull desktop computer (Intel 980-X , 12gb ddr3, about 24TB counting all my hard disks)

On my mini PCs Raspberries PI (1 & 2) and Banana PI, i love Raspbian (Linux Debian adapted for them) while on my Ibook G4 (Apple) i am using Lubuntu for PPC (i don't like Mac os X) and on my mini pc MK908II i am using Android.

For ending, the best operating system change from one system to another one and there is not the absolute best one on others!

All this is IMHO

I'm pretty familiar with just about anything Microsoft has put out (MS-DOS, Windows) and some Linux versions. Since I've been using Windows the longest, it's definitely my preference. Specifically, I know a lot about Windows XP as I had been using that for quite a few years, although I'm pretty fluent with anything between Win 3.1 and 10.

I use Windows 8, what was provide with the computer. After getting used to it, I have to say it's almost better than Windows XP. But I do have a preference for Windows 7; I hate the Windows 8 split screen you get when you turn on the computer

I prefer Windows 7. That's what I used on the school computers during college and it made my life so much easier in every single way when it came to working. Photoshop ran without threatening to self-destruct, as did Flash, I could watch things easily, I could configure my desktop and my task try icons EXACTLY how I wanted them for maximum efficiency...Skype didn't PANIC MODE at me sometimes... I could actually PLAY MY GAMES (thank you steam, and thank you school admins for not having steam blocked)...

I have Windows Vista on my laptop (aka the only computer I own) and while I like it -- yeeeah, I know I'll get haters for that, but I really liked it better than XP. I had bad issues with XP -- I'd rather have Windows 7. Unfortunately my laptop is too old and too slow to stand 7, so I'm stuck like this until I can get a NEW laptop with better gaming qualities than the current Decepticon toaster. Even if I have to downgrade from Windows 8, I will. My sister's laptop has Windows 8 and I have wanted to murder her laptop more than once because of it. Guess who is the 'go to IT person' in the house? *points to self* So every time something goes wrong with her laptop, I am the one who has to try to fix it, and I HATE. WINDOWS. 8. I will never have it on anything I own. EVER. 

Windows 7, though... I want it. I want my customizing ability back. XD

Now that I am starting to get used to windows 8 I am starting to like it more than 7 but I still can't wait for windows 10 as it combines what I like about 7 with what I like about 8. With the way things are looking i think Windows 10 is going to be the new windows 7 (Just like how windows 7 was the new ex and the xp was the new windows 95) especially considering the fact that it is a free upgrade.

catbert225 : I'm also really looking forward to Windows 10. It stinks that I have to wait until I get my own laptop to try out Windows 10. Right now I have Windows 7 so when I get Windows 10 I'll be used to Windows 7.

PacmanandMariofan : Since Windows 95 (I am too young to remember MS-DOS) the configuration is intuitive. I am sure the controls will be easy to master... although I will probably not get Windows 10 for now.

janus : I'm sure of that too. Every computer operating system I've used has been easy for me to learn the controls of, and learn many cool features as well.

Windows 10. Still not quite sure what's the difference between them.

I think I'm using Windows 7. We have a laptop that uses Windows XP...it needs to be fixed. Don't have the money to do so how ever. But as for which I like to use more. I don't really see a difference except for the Paint app and I like the Windows 7 version more.