Which OS are the worst and the best?

[xeron]

The all time crappest OS I've ever used award goes to: Windows ME. Truly dire.

Second crappest: Atari TOS. (note that Atari users agree and have replaced it with various improved systems

Oh, and I disagree about Linux being one of the best. TBH, I think its a miracle it works at all its such a mess. (and no, fancy GUIs to abstract the user from the mess only addresses the symptom, not the problem :-D ).

[xeron]

jamesm wrote:
2. C64 Basic (C'mon, it was an OS that *never* got in your way)

If you're going to include BASIC ROMs that shipped with 8 bit computers, C64 BASIC is RIGHT at the bottom of the pile (and believe me, I am a true Commodore fan, I own 3 C64s, a VIC-20, a PET, and some others). BBC BASIC just totally wipes the floor with any other BASIC of that era.

I mean lets do a comparison:

C64 BASIC pros:

1) Extensible (at the cost of RAM or a cart slot)
2) Errr.... it works

C64 BASIC cons:

1) No graphics or sound commands. You have to POKE the hardware directly
2) Woefully small command set
3) Slooooooow


BBC BASIC [and DOS] pros (compared to C64 BASIC):

1) Structure (procedures, local variables etc.)
2) Inline assembler
3) Comprehensive sound and graphics command set
4) Relatively fast for a BASIC of its type
5) Inbuilt methods for changing character set, "special" key behaviour etc.
6) Automatic line enumeration, and renumbering


BBC BASIC cons (compared to C64 BASIC):

1) errr... ummm.... :-)

I will admit that the C64 had vastly superior hardware to the BBC (in terms of graphics and sound; the BBC was more easily expandable), but we're discussing the OS here..