I need to replace a workstation.  Its only use will be to to access the server for DBA.
What operating system should I get?
    win98     (is it too obsolete even if I just want to use DBA)
    win2000  (but all my other stations are win98  )
    xp           .            (heard other DBA users say there is a conflict)
    xp pro     (too expensive?, too many conflicts)
 
Any and all help appreciated.
Thanks,
Laura

You cannot buy a computer with anything other than XP anymore, which would mean if you went with 98 you would be paying for 2 operating systems and using the less powerful one.....not sure that makes a good business case.
 
Also, MS is to discontinue support for 98 this December, I believe.
 
You really should upgrade ALL your stations to at least 2000 if not XP.  Buy a site license.

Laura,
 
With regards to the "if it aint broke...." thing.....Let me tell you a little proverb that I have found VERY helpful in my management career as well as a business owner for over 3 years now.
 
There was a small city that thought about building a bridge across a slow river that separated them from a large forest area.  So, they asked their best advisor if they should build it.  He counted the number of people that swam across the river each day and found that there was only a few.  from this he concluded that building a bridge would only server the needs of these few people so he advised to not build the bridge.
 
A few years later, a new group was running the city.  They decided to build the bridge anyway.  Turns out THOUSANDS of people crossed the bridge everyday.  When asked why they didn't cross before they said "becasuse there was no bridge to cross"...........
 
Might want to think about that.
 
Also, a site license is a way of licensing your Windows and other software when you have multiple computers.  Rather than buying a computer pre-loaded with everything and paying an OEM license fee on all the software that is on that system, you buy the boxes from someone local, without anything installed and you buy a license from Microsoft (or whoever else) to have x number of computers using that software at your company.  Whether it be Windows, Office, Autocad, or DBA (which is also a site licensed software).  generally get better pricing this way as soon as you go beyond 5-6 stations.