I used Windows since the early '90s, and became interested in other OS around the time XP was released. I've tried SuSE Linux, Caldera, and BeOS. BeOS seems to me very easy to use, especially for desktop (haven't tried using it as a server yet). Although the underlying code is not Unix based, directory structure is very similar to Linux, so it felt kind of familiar. I can truthfully say that BeOS is very stable. Like Linux, if an application crashes, it doesn't take the entire OS down with it. Also, BeOS is extremely fast, most operations take place 'right now'. The downside is that, like Linux a few years ago, hardware support is kind of spotty. My soundcard needed a driver download, which wasn't difficult, however my particular modem wouldn't work at all, so needed to be replaced with a compatible device.
BeOS used to have several distributions available, through Be Inc, and through GoBE. Development proceeded up through version 5 before Be Inc. closed. Now it is necessary to download the files from a website such as BeBits, although development has continued. The current versions available are 5.21, and a beta for version 5.3 (I think). There is also new distro, which would roughly be equivalent to version 6 called Zeta under development by YellowTab, to be released this year (hopefully).
I like that many of the annoyances which I had with Windows and with the two Linux distros have been addressed. Like any OS, Be isn't perfect, but it is very good.
Ron

mac os but this should be in general discussion.

I'm getting quite into QNX at the moment.

I like BeOS and then Windows 2k pro I know, I know M$ but right at the moment I need Windows for work. Please dont hurt me !

There's another OS besides Linux?

I'd have to say mine would be Solaris, since I really don't use any others except my dual boot with win2k so often in which I use, but not my favorite.

Favourite Non-linux OS?
If you wan't me to be honest, probably AmigaOS (Workbench and Kickstart together)
I don't know why. Compared to many of todays OS's it's positively primitive, but to me that doesn't matter. It can be beefed if necessary :-)
If it's an x86 OS your on about, probably BeOS. Although Windows 3.1 is also well up there.

You serious, Geosharp? Honestly, I'd have to say it was DOS 6.22 with WfW 3.11. I've only used the MS stuff (DOS 3.3, 5.0, 6.22, Win95, 98, 2000, XP) and several Linux distros (an old Caldera, Basic, Mu, Floppix, Vector, CORE, Slack, Knoppix, Mandrake for a minute, Debian halfway installed, etc.) and PicoBSD and Oberon. So I can really only say my favorite anything, and especially Linux, is Slack and my favorite MS is DOS 6.22. I just repartitioned my 486SX because I made too big a partition for Basic and I just enjoy fiddling with DOS. Oh, the shame.

Really. I'm surprised it's still here.

Oh yes. I really do love the AmigaOS. I ust find it incredibly nice to use. I've used MacOS, before, but for some reason it just ain't quite the same.
As for Win 3.1, it's the most stable version of Windows i've ever used to be honest! :-D
It's also got a pretty good interface IMHO. Program manager is pretty good, and it did have a desktop.

Nah, I've heard good stuff about Amiga though I've never used it. I was wondering about the 3x part. Not so much on progman but it was the most stable. And at least was an app running on a CLI like a GUI should be.

OS/2 Warp 4. It's a shame Windows reached the popularity it has and OS/2 didn't. IBM has never been very successful at marketing software for the masses. They are much better at writing software than they are at marketing it.

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. I just love that ugly blue. I would say for a non-linux OS I would have to choose BSD.

DOS seems to be a nice *nix wannabe.
To bad it is dead.

I have a old WIn 95 Pen. 2 at 133mhz, that is serving as a height extension for my cabinent which holds my computer case. i might break it out sometime this summer to see how it performs.

I like Freebsd and Winxp pro...I think these are some pretty good OSes. Although I haven't been using Free much lately, but need to get back into it.

My fav non free non linux os: Solaris on Sparc is great but I don't like Solaris on x86 (it has problems with bufferoverflows due to x86 architectural flaws)

My fav free non linux os: FreeBSD or OpenBSD very stable very secure.