Best Alternative Operating System To Ubuntu?

[Albert Wagner]

This is a long thread and I have not read all replies;  But I did go 
looking for alternatives.  Most useful was this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Linux_distributions

Although I did install and test several of these. My solution to an 
alternative for Ubuntu was Xubuntu.  Ha! Xubuntu has everything I must 
have:  easy installation of nVidia drivers, Apt, Synaptic, Gnome apps 
(esp. Terminal and GEdit);  All with a minimalist desktop.  I also 
installed Rox-filer, which I have always loved.  So have a ball with 
Gnome3 and KDE4.  I am insulated from bothersome change.