WinXP Pro will have the longest support life, but also has the highest up-front cost. If you buy retail, you're entitled to re-use it on another computer if you remove it from the first one. If you buy OEM, you're not supposed to do that.
WinXP MCE is only available OEM, so that rules out the retail option.
Regarding your spyware/adware/virus problems, it sounds like you need some increased knowledge on computer security. Here are my suggestions:
1) make sure the computers are protected by firewalls. If you have broadband, then put
a router between the modem and your computer(s). This keeps them from being directly molested by computers on the Internet. I'd also use the Windows Firewall on WindowsXP with Service Pack 2, no exceptions allowed unless you have a particular need for them. This helps keep your own computers from attacking eachother if one of them gets infected.
2) if you have wireless, enable WEP or WPA encryption so people who live nearby can't accidentally or deliberately connect their virus-bearing computer to your wireless network. If you have a wireless gateway/modem unit already, and will be adding a wireless-equipped router to it, then disable the wireless on the gateway/modem and encrypt the wireless on the router.
3) make sure the computers have Automagic Updates switched on in the Control Panel.
4) use a
current-generation antivirus software. Not McAfee 6.5, not Norton 2001, not some other relic that you're too cheap to replace. There's a thread in the Software forum with links to some free ones if you can't afford pay-for stuff. Make sure to
turn on all optional capabilities.
5) consider using Windows Defender beta 2, you can find a link to it on
Microsoft's front page.
6) consider using
Limited-class user accounts for daily-driver purposes like email, web browsing and instant messaging. Make a new user account (Control Panel > User Accounts) named
Admin and leave that one as a Computer Administrator account, then switch your usual account to Limited. This is a huge deterrent to spyware, adware and many other forms of malware. Bust out the
Admin account only when you need Admin powers for something, like installing a new printer & software.
7)
USER TRAINING Teach people the concept that
all that glitters is not gold. All the other measures are useless if people are determined to install Free Smilies For Your Email!! and Free Living Waterfall Screensaver!!! OMG! and all that other shiny bait that people fall for.
8) If any of the computers are new enough to feature hardware Data Execution Prevention, then it may help against some exploits.
Fully enable it like this.
Sorry if that's not really addressing your questions, but maybe it addresses your problems.
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