XP Home??

[Galant]

Okay, setting up my first build.

Was going ahead with Win XP Home Edition. Can pick it up for about ($89 - 54 sterling).

Should I, or would you recommend something else?

[BUFF]

XP Home is fine unless you:
need to log on to domains e.g. university networks etc.
run large networks
need Pro because you are doing an IT course etc. that requires it

[Jiff Lemon]

Just be sure it's a full retail product.

[wasabi]

Yeah - home is fine unless you need to log into a domain. Lots of people will tell you that you need pro but they're mainly warezors who aren't actually paying for it.

First thing to do after you install it is downloads service pack 1a and several of the more crucial security updates.

[directhex]

any copies of windows you buy these days should come pre-patched to the latest service pack - 2000 is SP4 and XP is SP1a