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Debian is revered as the most stable distro of Linux. Debian focuses on stability and security but because of this has a slow stable release date of about 1-3 years (this simply means that a new 'final' stable version is only released this often.) Debian users who wish to use newer packages can choose to use the Testing or Unstable versions of Debian that may be more buggy than the well tested stable releases. Debian works on more processor architectures than any other version of Linux which means that almost any hardware can run it and it will be stable. Debian is best suited for moderately technical users. 

Slackware

Slackware is the oldest Linux Distribution still in use. Slackware is highly technical and not a good choice for new or novice users. Although highly stable, Slackware requires a high level of knowledge of Unix Command Line as most management of the system is done via terminal commands or editing config files. There is a saying among Linux users: "Learn Red Hat and you'll know Red Hat, but if you learn Slackware then you'll know Linux."

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This article only scratches the surface of Linux distributions available. There are many other distributions available to explore. Some are designed for consumers, some for particular devices, some for particular purposes. Because Linux is open sourced anybody can make or modify a distribution to make an OS that meets their particular needs. You can find a link to DistroWatch below, a repository of Linux distributions that will give you both an overview and technical information about the distributions listed above and any others you would like to research. 

Related Links

DistroWatch
Dual Booting
Live (bootable) Linux CDs

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