Do you consider windows systems in general to be good?

[Cyraxzz]

Just checking reactions, since a great deal of Ubuntu users own an XP partition.

[aysiu]

I think Windows XP is an excellent operating system.

I just happen to like Ubuntu better.

[Kilz]

I used to have an XP partition. But I deleted it after 4 months. It was just taking up space. I don't miss it at all. After 8 months of using Linux I don't think I will ever go back. I recently had to help a friend clean out xp. It just drove me crazy, it was so limiting and slow to get anything accomplished.

[someusernoob]

Actually there is not much 'wrong' with Windows. But the things you have to do to maintain it makes you go crazy (virus scan, spyware scan, defragment, registery cleaner etc.). Also installing software is horror.

Besides that, when you have a:

default Windows XP box (SP2, last updates)
default Ubuntu box (6.06.1, last updates)

and use it, you'll find out which is better, and why Windows isnt that 'good' actually.

I might switch back to Windows when they got a package manager, and i dont believe this will ever happen.

[K.Mandla]

I voted "unsure" only because I consider them sufficient for the task. They get the job done, and if that's what you like and that's what you want to use to get the job done, then hey, I say use it.

I will note, however, that I used to think EasyScript on the Commodore 64 was sufficient to get the job done. But you won't see me typing up my resume on my old breadbox.

[tonyr]

My sentiments lie pretty much along the same lines as K.Mandla. I'm
having a hard time finding a sufficiently general context in which
to define 'good' as it pertains to an operating system. Works pretty
well for most of the Windows community. Is way bloated. Has
delusions of grandeur. Provides a whole passle of solutions
across a wide range of disciplines, and they even work well enough.

Am I over-analyzing here? ...somebody stop me...

EDIT: Actually, I like aysiu's answer, completely subjective,
concise, to the point, which I guess was the whole point in the first
place.

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

Windows is a good operating system, I have no problem with it. In my opinion there are better choices avaible though.

[Dr. C]

I voted no.
I do think that Windows XP pro would be an excellent operating system if one took out the DRM (Product activation, WGA etc.). Windows Vista will take this even further allowing Microsoft revoke the product key of a Vista Computer requiring activation again. This may be added to XP in a future service pack. Product key revocation can be deliberate or accidental. The latter occurred recently with WGA when for example problems with one of Microsoft's server's caused the computers in an educational institution to fail WGA.

More specifically I would say

Vista / Longhorn Server not good
Windows XP becoming not good fast
Windows Server 2003 maybe (only infected with product activation no WGA yet)
Windows 2000 / Server 2000 good but possible WGA infections
Windows NT (Workstation and Server) 4, 3.51, 3.5 good
Windows NT (Workstation and Server) 3.1 Very new but sill fairly good
Windows ME no DRM but not good because it crashes all the time. The only non DRM version of Windows I am prepared to fail outright.
Windows 98 / 98SE good
Windows 95 good
Windows 3.1 / Windows for Workgroups 3.11 good
Windows 3.0 and earlier (Windows 386/ 286, 2.xx 1.xx ) good for their time.
MS DOS (all Versions except 4 ) good
MS DOS 4 very iffy

[Sef]

I voted unsure. It can get the bsic jobs done (word processing, internet and such, but, as was mentioned, there is the updating of anti-viruses, spyware, and malware protection. Really depends on what you need to get done. Sometimes Windows software is better than non-windows software; sometimes not. (At least right now this is true.) If it does use Windows, or WINE, or Crossover, if they can work on one of the last two. I prefer to stick with GPL software whenever possible.

[rfruth]

Windows is okay but thank my lucky stars I don't need it !