This latest release gives me the most satisfaction since I'm using Slackware (September 2005 with 10.2).

In addition to the expected stability and simplicity (i.e. I'm in full control of setting up the system to my own needs), this release comes with up-to-date packages in particular the KDE 4.4.3 which I find highly functional and responsive on my desktop (1.8MHz, 1GB RAM).

With this release, the Slackware team demonstrates that stability and bleeding edge are not incompatible goals. It seems to boil down to a good vetting process before deciding what gets included in the distribution (Thanks Patrick Volkerding for making the rather controversial switch to KDE4 in 13.0).

As usual, reading the documentation files is highly recommended before installation or upgrade (I would dare to say mandatory even for longtime Slackware users). A good starting point would be:

README.TXT

CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT

and if you want to upgrade from 13.0:

UPGRADE.TXT

Slackware 13.1 is the best OS ever. The KDE people have been kicking some ass and now you can do window tabbing just like fluxbox. Also you can drag windows to the edge of the screen and they'll auto size to half your resolution which is actually EASIER than writing my own apps file in fluxbox. I'm actually switching from fluxbox back to KDE again. I didn't see that coming. Not in a million years. Also it boots pretty fast.

Also KDevelop 4.0! Kick-ass.

KWord still won't save in .doc format so it's useless when you want to email a resume. But that's no big deal because you can install whatever word processor you want.

I have a noob-proof tutorial for installing slackware here if it's useful to anybody:
http://www.icecubeflower.com/slcak.html
EDIT:
By the way you can get the Openoffice Slackbuild script and it uses the .deb package so you don't even have compile. So although slack technically doesn't come with Openoffice it's extremely fast and easy to install it and you'll be saving .doc's in no time.

after a while using slackware it became my favorite distro, i've been using it since 12.1, and for this release i couldn't expect less, such a great work with kde, still as icecubeflower said kword doesn't save your doc files but, i guess that's something we're gonna have to bare with in a while.
in one word... AMAZING

Slackware and Linux are the reasons I went back to school for computer science. I've been a Slackware user for 15 years now. It's an extremely rewarding distribution. Things just work.

I second the comment about vetting. The maintainers do such a great job and the documentation is short and to the point. Very easy to follow the readme's in the base of the distro.

It is so rewarding and satisfying to get new things working because the base is so solid. I set up encrypted logical volumes on my laptop following the docs, RAID 1 and LVM on another server, again, just follow the docs.

I configure things or figure them out once in Slackware and I can just merge my changes as time goes on. It is this respect for my own preferences that makes me love Slackware. It so flexible and simple. Other distros do spooky, scary things under the covers. Slackware is right in your face about all of it. I like that.

It is more effort but it's not wasted effort. It is productive effort. That has not been my experience on other distros. I waste tons of time on stupid stuff with other Linux distributions. Slackware will never do this to you. I promise :-)

Oh, and I should add plugs for stability and speed too. I haven't used anything better than Slackware in both of these respects.

I've been using Linux for 10 years and always wind up coming back to Slackware because of it's simplicity.

I'm new in slackware but not in linux distro.
I've learn more with slackware in three months than with others distros in three years.
I started with the 13.0
Now with the 13.1, I can go further, and the KDE 4.5.0 (cause I upgraded to current) is so rich in functionalities.

NjB

I love it! so stable... currently running my radio station online and I like it better then red hat! I switched from Red Hat 5.5 Eterprise to Slackware Linux 13.1

Slackware has been a distribution of mention throughout my exposure to Linux. Having talked to someone about Linux, Slackware was his recommendation. I've tried setting up linux on my own, and had given up back then because I thought it was too hard.

Enter summer 2010: I had been tipped about using Ubuntu. I installed it, and was given a great out of the box experience. But, I felt, I was being robbed indirectly. I don't think I was being forced to learn Linux like I felt I was going to learn it.

This said, I popped in the latest Slackware, and wasn't fazed because I had read the beginning sections of the Slackbook. After that, I had an able system, ready to take on what Linux has to offer me. During this time, I hadn't been keen on customizing my installs. However, as I grew into it, I started being more daring, and getting more comfortable compiling things from source. I do like the idea of having to deal with them on my own.

I use the x86 flavor on my laptop, the 64 w/ multilib on my desktop. Each have been stable, as long as I don't install a faulty package. I've had a number of times where my keyboard and mouse have been disabled after going into X.

This said, I think Slackware, is a highly rewarding; but very productive because you get up and running in minutes. This allows people time to worry about configuring it, as opposed to time spent worrying about assembling it.

The hardest thing about slackware installation is setting up the particians. If you know how to use fdisk or gparted to set up the particians the hardest part is behind you.The best part of installation is that 90% of the questions ask, offer a suggestion, just enter and move on! If you do the full install, slackware has far more packages than any of the other distros ready to use. I have used many of the other distros over the years and some are great, but I think that the helpful knowledge base for slack is tops.

I am using Slackware Linux since version 11.0, i have try use other distros, because i don't was much skillful, but i always back because the others distros are too stupid making tools to auto install packages and dependencies which you never will use or don't ever know was installed.

I use Slackware as server and client, and i am very satisfied, and i recommend use it.

I started my experience with Slackware with this very version - 13.1 (32bit). I am new to Slack but I am starting to love it much in every detail! Wonderful creature!

Here's a way to have a PC fully powered. Even an old one. No bad surprise. No bulls**t. Good reactivity of updates. No 140 cd's set you'll never use.
I like the poor graphisms during installation because they introduce no bug.
The configuration tools (net, packages...) are quick.
On the Slackware site, you have The Book, from which you can learn Linux really fast.
The packages system is strong. No dependencies headaches.
A LOT of packages at http://slackbuilds.org/

Slack leads you from newbie to expert :
I've learned more slackin' 6 monthes than 10 years of others OS (including other Linuxes).
Well, please stop reading and just go for it.

P.S.: Big thanx to Patrick Volkerding and all other people who makes Slackware.

Slackware is my preferred operating system for exceptional stability and customization.
I started with Slackware version 7.1

Amazing... Everyone who has moved to Linux needs to change over to Slackware it will change your life! read above comments and you will see it's true this will take you to the next level in your Linux Life!

I'm not new to Linux, but I am certainly new to Slackware, I have started with it about six months ago.

I've used Ubuntu and Fedora, also for a small frame of time. Gentoo, Mandriva. Tested a lot of others on the Virtual Machine. But I have been stick to Debian and Arch Linux.

Now I've tested Slackware, I have three favorites, and just can't decide, so I use them three, Debian, Arch Linux and Slackware.

Here is what I think about Slackware.

My Slackware review

Guillermo Garron

Review of SLACKWARE: After 3 days of attempting to find a way to make a wireless connection....it has eluded me to no end. I'm tired of people saying Slackware is so Great. If you happen to be a code writer/programmer, I guess this distro is for you. Not for me. My nic card shows up during the booting process. No way to determine how to find it from the desktop or do any configuration for it. Not one that makes sense. My laptop is a Dell 1545, 4gb ram, 80gb hard drive for installing Slackware, it took two attempts. Finally got a desktop (XFCE) to appear. My best experience of linux distros: LinuxMint10.1, PCLOS and SUSEEDucation. I know I know I'm overly critical here and you guys that know linux inside out I envy. Yet I was wanting to try Slackware and see what all the hype is about. So far...None.

Slackware's really fun. I use it for my laptop, desktop, and server. Very fast, stable, and clean. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a "real linux" experience that is somewhat familiar with BASH. Works great on older machines -- my webserver never goes above 100MB of RAM unless I'm hosting a game server.

I would recommend the 32bit version over the 64bit version because it has higher compatibility right off the bat. I would recommend giving the SlackBook a quick read.