I've tried endlessly. Ubuntu,kubuntu, even xubuntu, fluxbuntu, mandriva, gentoo, fedora, uhh... Then...Kubuntu again.

Problem with each:
Ubuntu- Wanted KDE, stupid "all language, no repositories" prob.
Kubuntu- had an extreme bug and it died. Second time, which is now, is beginning to get utterly boring for Linux.
Xubuntu- Wanted KDE
Fluxbuntu- I was just desperate that time. Still wanted KDE.
Mandriva- Could not compile from source, which drives me crazy
Gentoo- I had no idea what the crap i was doing in that LiveCD...
Fedora- Sleekness has the tradeoff of no software and no source compilation off-the-bat.

Note that also I can only use things under 2 CD-Rs worth of data as well, thanks in advance.

Rushing into ONE distro will get you no more satisfaction than demanding that someone else tell you what will work for you.
According to your list of attempts, you haven't tried Slack. Why not? By the sounds of things, you've got nothing to lose.

Ubuntu, I have never had any repository problems, don't know what you are talking about
Kubuntu, please elaborate on bug
rest of *buntu, why did you try them if you like KDE so much
Mandriva, did you install gcc?
Gentoo, you should consult the documentation on the gentoo website
Fedora, don't know what you mean by no software

I suggest you try slackware

Which distro
 

Your signuture links are very usefull. Especially the links for older PC'S. Having said, I am going to try both Ubuntu, OpenSUSE and Mandriva on my pentium III see how slow it will make it.

Failing that, I will try Xbuntu, Poppy, Mint, DSL. I think out of the latter for hardware support Xbuntu would win, would you agree.

I still will need to get my usb devices and multimedia codec working. I also want to be able to read word docs and send docs to poeple which can be read by windows applications.

That is possible, right?

You'll want 'libdvdcss', and 'win32codecs' and/or another large codec pack for MPlayer or Xine or whatever media thing you decide on. These should take care of video/movies/multimedia etc..

Writing documents that can be read on Windoze machines is no problem at all. I use Kwrite, and save files as .rtf files (rich text format) and have had no difficulties reported back to me.

And far as I know, it works the other way too. You should have little or no difficulty reading most or all Windoze documents using either Kwrite, or something similar, or if need be, use Open Office.

which distro
 

I am assuming this applies to all the thin client distros. As a matter of interest, what do you use?

Everyone says slackware is steep learning curve and not supporting latest technologies. But the more I read the more it seems that it will support my usb drives, and it not too sluggish. It should also cell phone usb connections.

I can live with that. OK, wont till I try I guess.

Uhh, lol, but I only have about two CDS left for my linux distro search, not six. If there is a one or two CD version of slackware please tell me!
Also, what about SuSe?
That refers mostly to her. Anyone found a strip-down version yet? I'm rushing google pages like Jolt colas.

@ Archoniam -- Slack 11 when I got it, took up 3 CD's. TWO were important, the third contains all the extra languages and stuff like that.
I can't comment for Slackware 12, as I haven't played with it yet :)

@ Siawash - - I hadn't been specifically referring to 'thin client' oriented distros, but all what I said should apply just the same. Someone will surely be quick to correct me however, if I'm wrong. Just give 'em a little time :) lol.. I don't run anything on a thin client myself. Just my super duper Slackware-and-derivitives Desktop Computer :) heh heh..
Steep Learning curve? Relatively speaking, yes a little bit. But there is NO SHORTAGE of documentation and helpful information, as well as the (un?)official Slackware support site being right here under your.. Umm, under your fingertips!
Slackware is not sluggish at all, quite the opposite, and very configurable, though like any other distro or OS, you could load it up with so much 'blingy eye-candy junk and rotating cube desktop things' that it would probably get as sluggish as you wanted to make it.
USB drives should be no problem, but I can't speak to the cell-phone angle, as I simply don't use that functionality.

Dont head out yet GrapefruiT. It says there's only one ISO for i486 for Slack 11.0. For one, is 11 upgradable to 12? And if not, and even still, is it true?

As to whether 11 is upgradeable to 12, I'm inclined to say YES, but it probably is not something a brand new Slack user would undertake on his/her first day.
For specifics, you'd be weller off (lol) to search the Slackware sub-forum for the answer to that.
Last I checked, it could be done.

Now, which "it" is telling you there is only one ISO for Slack? Can you provide a link please?

Better yet, consider this link, which is the Slackware mirror I use:

http://gulus.usherbrooke.ca/pub/dist...ware-11.0-iso/

You can see Install CD's d1, d2, and d3, or a DVD which is one ISO only. Maybe it is the DVD you are seeing?

Uhh, Linuxquestions iso file place. Turns out you're right... uhh...lolz that idea is shot.
I still cant use a DVDR in my computer. If i did, i would be reading slackware docs while my d/l finishes.
[edit]
Turns out, miraculously, I will be. I got a third CD that was blank while waiting for a reply. Now i got three CD-Rs and ima wait overnight for the d/l to finish and tell ya how it goes when i get around to it.

Why? Just get the d1 and d2 disks and burn them. If you really want the third, download it and mount it on a loop and copy all the stuff out, then use pkgtool to install it all. d3 is pretty much optional though. I haven't used d3 in a long time, like prolly since the second time I installed Slack.

thanks for the compliment

Thanks, I will investigate the all in one /slimed down distros. They seem to hold the most promise for me especially Opensuse for networking, Puppy and Abiword instead of the big Open Office Suite.