Which OS should i install?

[TSDgeos]

OK, next monday my new PC parts will be coming, then i'll be running on:
Athlon XP 1600+
Epox 8KHA+
256 MB DDR RAM
Hercules Prophet 4500
Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB
Sounb Blaster LIve!
Chieftech CS2001D Blue tower

My main question is which Microsoft OS should i install (it'll be dual-booting with Linux, but i'll install Mandrake 8.0 as it's the only one i have), Win98SE, WinME or WinXP. Don't tell me to install Win2K as i don't have a copy of it.
OK, next monday my new PC parts will be coming, then i'll be running on:
Athlon XP 1600+
Epox 8KHA+
256 MB DDR RAM
Hercules Prophet 4500
Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB
Sounb Blaster LIve!
Chieftech CS2001D Blue tower

My main question is which Microsoft OS should i install (it'll be dual-booting with Linux, but i'll install Mandrake 8.0 as it's the only one i have), Win98SE, WinME or WinXP. Don't tell me to install Win2K as i don't have a copy of it.

 

[AkumaBao]

Well, out of all those I would choose XP. It has it's compatibility problem, but hat's about it. You probably know you might have to update or buy newer versions of your software, but it more stable than the others. In my opinion, XP is a better choice than say XP or 98SE. Another thing that annoying about XP is that freaking activation. If you do some major upgrade, like a mobo, you have to re-install, and after you do this more than twice , you have to call MS to re-activate it manually since it doesn't like being re-installed more than twice for some reason.

 

[SyahM]

If you have XP pro, then XP it is. If you have XP home.. be patience to activate it. But if you cant wait and dont want to go through the installation process, pick 98.

 

[Slapus]

well i'd recommend against ME because i'm running ME and it wouldnt let me load mandrake 8.1 and gave me all sorts of problems even after i formatted and installed both OS's back to back