As somebody who grew up in the 90s playing with PCs, then making a career out of it in System Administration i use to love Windows, it use to excite me, i actually wanted to use it.
For me Windows 2000 was the last Microsoft OS that i truly loved the GUI of, it was clean, simple, neat and tidy, not too many stupid wizards everywhere and it did not nag me.
Windows XP could with enough ticks of boxes be made to act like Windows 2000 more or less, with things such as classic mode in Control Panel to get rid of that awful grouping they introduced and that fisher price my first PC look could be turned off.
Microsoft have in my option gone down hill with every version of Windows since it terms of the interface, which is extremely important because its the interface that we as humans interact with the hardware.
I would rather use the Windows 3.1 GUI with Program Manager than Windows 10 or 8 or 8.1, they do nothing but infuriate and frustrate me to the point that i am now drained off all my love and excitement for Windows, Windows 8 drove me that mad with its jarring GUI i went out and bought my first ever Mac for use at home.
So what do others feel was Microsoft’s best OS in terms of the GUI? What was the last version of Windows you actually loved using? Do you think Microsoft will ever give what so many people seem to want again, a decent GUI……
Bats
<p>This is a tough question for me, because I never really thought about it. I never really thought about, because never during my "journey" with Windows (3.1., 4, 95, BOB, 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10) did I ever experience a "techgasm" with a GUI. The truth is, I am cool with all of them, including "8." </p><p><br></p><p>I think the closest answer to your question would be "7." I am only on Windows 10 because A) it was free, B) it came pre-installed on my PCs last year, and C) it's security upgrade. Windows 7 is a little more simpler. I feel that there is no real difference between 7 and 10. To me, 10 is like Microsoft re-upholstering and moving the furniture and telling me that I am in a new house. So, I guess it's "7."</p>
Stooks
<p>My first Windows was Windows 286 and 386. I supported Z286/386's Zenith computers in the Air Force. I remember waiting in line at FedEx to pickup my copy of Windows 3.1. Windows 95 was a huge with a midnight event at Fry's in the Bay Area (San Fran). </p><p><br></p><p>That said Windows XP was my favorite to include the server version, Windows 2003 R2. They are IMHO the last great versions of Windows.</p><p><br></p><p>Vista/Office 2007 prompted me to get my first MacBook and I have always had one since. At the same time my Xbox 360 had its first RROD, followed by 2 more. My faith in Microsoft started going down. 7 was a move in the right direction and I thought "they are coming back!" followed by Windows 8.x and now 10….not so much.</p><p><br></p><p>I gave my last home Windows PC to my son in November. Basically a beasty gaming rig and moved my little gaming I do to the Xbox One X. My personal computing now is all Apple and I am lucky in that I am also given a choice or PC or Mac at work.</p>