I use my own package manager based loosly on slacpkg except it has simple dependency checking, can create a template build script given the url for a source package etc, and also to say that it is insecure is frankly a load of crap!, as the ONLY packages that get installed is what I install and I configure, therefore LFS is probably the most secure installation as I know exactly what has been put where, LFS has ABSOLUTLY no connection with ubuntu and isn't hosted by anyone ( as such ) as it is a set of instructions on how to build an OS from scratch. It is no more unmanagable than any other source based system, in fact it is easier to manage than most as only the software I want gets installed.

My vote goes to Sparkylinux.

Yes Debian is the best. I've used more than 15 Linux distros and found that the best distros are... 1. OpenSUSE and 2. Sparkylinux. Sparkylinux is based on Debian Testing. Sparkylinux is faster and more responsive than OpenSUSE. So the first place goes to Sparkylinux. Sparkylinux is simply the best. LXDE in Sparkylinux is completely error free. LXDE in other Linux distros comes with bugs. Sparkylinux comes in LXDE, Rajor-QT, XFCE, MATE, CLI, E19, Open-box, JWM, and, Gameover Edition. Soon the two or three guys behind this amazing Sparkylinux will release LXQT replacing LXDE and Rajor-QT. Go for it, it's simply the best. If you have a purpose in mind then you need Specific Purpose based Linux but if you are a general user then Sparkylinux is the best. The problem is virtually nobody knows this best distro. Sparkylinux comes with its own tiny apps that are simply awesome. It's go for Linux distro. Just get it.

SparkyLinux is a lightweight, fast and simple Linux distribution disigned for both old and new computers featuring customized Enlightenment and LXDE desktops. It has been built on the “testing” branch of Debian GNU/Linux.
Sparky is available for i586 and x86_64 machines.
Main features:
– Debian testing based
– rolling release
– lightweight, fast & simple
– main edition – lightweight & fast LXDE desktop
– Enlightenment – lightweight and beautiful
– ultra light base edition with Openbox or JWM desktops
– special gaming edition: GameOver
– MATE Edition with GNOME 2 fork desktop
– Razor-Qt Edition with Qt based desktop
– CLI Edition for building own customized desktop
– most wireless and mobile network cards supported
– set of selected applications, multimedia codecs and plugins
– easy hard drive / USB installation
Important !
SparkyLinux iso images provide a snapshot of a current tree of Debian ‘testing’.
It is not suitable for Linux beginners.

Best is so subjective when talking about desktop. I wish I could vote for four, and one of the four is not in the list.
Running ARCH right now, put the kid on Elementary, but Debian is my personal choice for most projects. TinyCore is the one I carry on USB keys for and emergency dekstop, repair and recovery solution.

Slackware, yeah!

I see SliTaz is missing from the list again.

AntiX is my distro of choice - using 'base', then adding anything I may need.

TinyCore & SliTaz are my backup distros.

Slackware

Slackware, the distro that treats users as if they are smart.

I switched to gentoo from debian
for openrc init system

http://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/OpenRC

I voted for Ubuntu. I want it on my desktop, laptop, tablet and phone.

Mint is what I install on peoples computers to take them off Win. So much so that I donated and purchased mint stickers to replace xp stickers. Mint is a full package linux that does not require geek support by the user.

I always have puppy precise handy and I do love #! waldorf. I have loaded 20 different flavors this last year and really find them all wonderful. Debian is really becoming dialed in for the average user with flavors like sparky. I have a user with no skill running sparky on a dell mini as all his hardware (wifi) just worked in sparky.

What is the most important is that the customers I have put on linux, I rarely see them and when I do it takes 20 minutes instead of multiple hours on win machines.

2 members found this post helpful.

I voted for Debian. I love Linux, I just hate most distros once they become popular enough to encourage the political flies to show up and dribble their verbal dishonest crap all over the place. So, there is is, Linux is now successful enough to encourage the nutters and half-baked prats to attend.

What really happened is that Bill Gates saw the opportunity to shut down XP and send his nutcases over here. And he evilly cackled at the prospect, so he did so.

That's a good way of thinking when recommending a distro for "normal" people. I believe Salix is also a good one to choose for that purpose. Being a geek myself, I run something else, but I always appreciate what they are doing.

Hi.

I still prefer the widest spanning distro:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Li...n_Timeline.svg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...n_Timeline.svg

...best wishes and have fun.

AntiX. Said like a Slackware user.

Yeah fatmac. I guess Slitaz gets no love here.
I really need to try and give it another spin when the next cooking comes out.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't understand why people use Slackware other than the fact that it's stable. Same with Debian.

I've found my groove with openSuSE right now...fast, stable, polished, and well supported.