Shop for operating systems

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 334 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 16 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 514 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows Vista is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 40 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 89 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 16 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 48 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows 7 is more than what Vista should have been, it's where Microsoft needed to go. How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 16 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 378 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows Vista Home Premium is essentially warmed-over Windows XP Home Edition. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista Home Premium is stable enough for everyday use. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 40 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 112 reviews

The Bottom Line: Intel Mac users will like Snow Leopard's smartly designed interface enhancements, and its Exchange support is a must-have (especially with Outlook for Mac on the way). With a ton of technological improvements, Snow Leopard is worth the $29 upgrade fee. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 5 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 48 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows Vista Business is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 40 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 2431 reviews

The Bottom Line: XP is a worthwhile upgrade from 95/98 or Windows 2000. Unless you need corporate administration tools, XP Home Edition should suffice for most--even for small businesses. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 1.5 GB, 64 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 21 reviews

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 199 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows Professional boasts serious corporate administration tools--it's a trustworthy upgrade from Windows 2000. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 1.5 GB, 64 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 84 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows Vista Home Basic is essentially warmed-over Windows XP, Windows XP SP3. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use. Read review

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, 20 GB, 512 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 183 reviews

The Bottom Line: The grace of Leopard's interface enhancements makes productivity more pleasurable with a Mac, as more than 300 functional and fun features top off this update. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 9 GB, 512 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: For small businesses that need a business in a box and want to stick with Microsoft technology, SBS 2003 is the only game in town. Read review

Specs: 5 clients, 1 server, Complete package

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: 10 CALs, 1 server, License and media

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 89 reviews

The Bottom Line: Windows 2000 isn't for the gamer or the casual surfer, but if you have a yen for speed, stability, and some serious server tools, this business-class OS will do you right. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 2 GB, 64 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: 1 seat, Complete package, 7 GB, 2 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 34 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though its new user features have mixed appeal, Tiger's technological changes and speed improvements make this an enticing upgrade, especially for those who passed on Panther. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 3 GB, 256 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 13 reviews

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 260 MB, 24 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 201 reviews

The Bottom Line: Panther adds new and useful features, but at the expense of some old standbys. Current Jaguar users need not apply. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 2 GB, 128 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 3 reviews

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 102 reviews

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 256 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: 3 PC in one household, Version upgrade package, 16 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 106 reviews

The Bottom Line: Millennium is a great face-lift for Windows 98, but it's not a necessary upgrade. If you have technical difficulties or work with pictures or music, try the new OS. But if you're happy with Windows 98, stick with it. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 295 MB, 32 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: 1 PC, Upgrade package, 19 GB, 1 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 266 reviews

The Bottom Line: Take a good, hard look at Mac OS X 10.2 if you're adding a Mac to a Windows network--Jaguar's new tools can't be beat. But home users, beware the $129 upgrade price if you're not looking for networking options. Read review

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 3 GB, 128 MB