My main computer:
     Hardware:
Motherboard:  VX-Pro
Processor:  AMD K6-200 mhz
Videocard:  S3 Virge
Soundcards:  SoundBlaster 16 Value Edition, Turtle Beach Daytona PCI
     Software:
Boot manager:  System Commander Deluxe (with some help from Partition Commander 6.0)
Operating Systems:  Windows 98 (1st edition), MS-Dos 6.22/Windows for Workgroups 3.11, BeOS 5 Pro, FreeBSD 4.2, and Linux-Mandrake 7.2.

 Why two soundcards?  The SB16 was the first soundcard I added to my old Packard Bell system (a 486SX-33), and when it died and I switched to this computer, I just naturally kept it.  When I was looking at newer sound cards, I was intrigued by the Daytona PCI because it provided an external input for a legacy card like the SB16.  I wanted to keep using the SB16 for compatibility with old DOS tracker programs like Fast Tracker II and RAD, the Adlib Tracker, and still explore wavetable synthesis and downloadable sounds.  The Daytona allowed me to do this.

  Why so many operating systems?  Because I can.  Because I'm curious.  And because it's fun to play around on the computer.  On my original Packard Bell, I had MS-DOS 6.0 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11.  Then I did the incremental update to 6.22.  After spending time learning how to use that system, I was leary of going to Windows 95.  When I had to switch to my current computer, my Dad had already installed Win95 on it, so that's what I used.  Later I learned about System Commander and how to partition my hard drive for multiple operating systems.  My old DOS/WFW system was natrually the second operating system I installed after Win95, because I still liked it and wanted to be able to go back to it every now and then.
  Eventually, I also added Red Hat Linux 5.2, and OS/2 Warp version 3, and I upgraded from Win 95 to Windows 98.  As interesting as they were, I really had no use for OS/2, and I couldn't do very much that was useful in Linux.  When I had a hard drive problem, Linux got wiped, and I couldn't reinstall it for some reason I never figured out.  I deleted OS/2 to free up more space on my hard drive for useful stuff.
  I downloaded and installed BeOS Personal Edition.  It was fun, but still a little mysterious.  I still don't understand why a "multimedia" OS didn't include built-in support for the old SoundBlaster and compatibles.  It did support my other peripheral equipment without problems, though.  I wanted to get the pro version and install BeOS on its own partition, but I wanted to give it plenty of  space, space I didn't have on my 8 gig drive.

 I even downloaded the free version of QNX.  It, too, was interesting, but I couldn't get it to recognize my ISA modem.
 Recently, however, I bought one of those 30 gig hard drives, and started moving things around and setting up partitions for a new multi-OS system.  I kept my Win98 and my older, Dos 6.22/WFW 3.11.  I tried reinstalling OS/2, but it kept giving me problems, so I gave up on it.  I thought about reinstalling Red Hat Linux 5.2, but there had been changes and even a kernel upgrade since then, so I got Linux-Mandrake instead.  I had a little trouble installing it (the install program tried to make things just a little too automatic), but finally got it up and running.  Despite the changes and updates, however, Linux is still the not-ready-for-prime-time operating system, at least as far as home users are concerned.
  Frustrated by Linux, I came across FreeBSD almost by accident.  I had seen references to it on the internet, but I didn't want to try downloading and installing it.  I found Greg Lehey's book, The Complete FreeBSD, and, as the title suggests, it came with FreeBSD version 4.2 and supplemental packages.  Interestingly, FreeBSD was easier to install than Linux-Mandrake, although it didn't have everything set up all nice and neat.

 And then I got and installed BeOS Pro.  Just like the Personal Edition, its installation was fast and easy.  I had to do some minor configuring for my modem and the SB16, but it all works, and pretty good, too.  If I didn't already have some favorite Windows and Dos programs that I can't live without, I'd be ready to make BeOS my primary operating system.  I'm still exploring its inner workings and other things that are not readily apparent under that colorful and easy-to-use graphical interface.
  It's a shame that BeOS hasn't caught on with home users.  There's a lot of power and flexibility under the hood that is not being fully utilized.
 At this point, I have no intention of limiting myself to one operating system.  All current systems have their advantages and disadvantages.  And while Microsoft has proven that they eventually get things right, I remain leary of the changes in Windows ME and the still-being-developed XP system.