[link|http://linuxgazette.net/issue63/tag/3.html|The Linux Gazette Answer Gang FAQ: Distros]

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How to pick the best Linux distribution to run:

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• Find the person who you would be most likely to ask for help if you have a Linux problem.
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• Run what he or she runs.
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Assuming you're going to be relying on the folks here, I'd strongly recommend [link|http://www.debian.org/|Debian].

There are numerous other reasons.

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• Package management. Package updates, software installs, and system upgrades are simpler, and work better, than any other distro I've used. While the tools are good, the real secret sauce is [link|http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/|Debian Policy], and while you don't have read it, you should know that it exists and why: to keep the system out of your face and put limits on Debian package maintainers. Policy violations are serious bugs in Debian.
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• Sane defaults. The base package selection, and configuration of these packages, is generally safe and sane. In Debian, when you're trying something for the first time, the rule of thumb is almost always "go with the defaults". Try it. If it doesn't work right, then try changing things. Don't agonize in advance though. Mistakes can be undone trivially.
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• Excellent documentation. Manpages are recommended by Policy. There is generally excellent documentation for a package in /usr/share/package. For more significant packages, check if package-doc exists.
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• [link|http://www.debian.org/Bugs/|Debian Bugtracking System] (BTS). Install the reportbug package, which provides the querybts and reportbug commands.
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• Excellent [link|http://www.debian.org/support|support resources]. Here at zIWT (or Jabber or the mailing list). [link|http://lists.debian.org/|Mailing lists.] [link|http://www.debian.org/support#irc|IRC] at irc://irc.debian.org/#debian .
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• [link|http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages|13,500+ software packages]. More than any other distro by far.
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• Over ten years of dedicated community existence. Debian's been around. Technical, organizational, and social issues have been worked out in detail over time. Though its commercial profile is low, it sees strong support from Hewlett-Packard, Sun, and other organizations. The [link|http://www.debian.org/social_contract|Debian Social Contract] ensures that Debian will be free, community oriented, and honest about its faults.
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A few other recommendations.

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• Install stable. Even if it doesn't give you the video card support, desktop, or apps you (think you) need. It's easy enough to upgrade later. Downgrading is nontrivial. Spend a little time getting used to the packaging system and asking questions. It will pay off.
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• [link|http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/install|READ THE INSTALL MANUAL]
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• For your installation, use [link|http://www.debian.org/CD/jigdo-cd/|jigdo] or [link|http://www.debian.org/CD/vendors/|one or more of the standard installation disks] if you can. You only need one disk to do the installation and it's faster to download packages as needed over the net as you install if you have broadband. Repeat: you do NOT need all seven disks to do an installation, so long as you have a network connection for install.
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• Do a minimal installation. You need a base system, networking, console video, and an editor. Everything else is icing. Moreover: it can be installed with the packaging system. Particularly if this is your first Debian system, and you have the time, try building up your system over time, installing packages as you find you need them. I find that after a couple of days, I've got a pretty complete system. Yes, if you know what packages you want, you can just install them off the top, but you probably don't at this point. Among other things, you'll get a very strong appreciation for the strengths (and characteristics) of the operating system.
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I've used it under both Linux and Windows (yes, Jigdo runs on Windows). Successfully. Actually, worked better "just trying it" than reading the instructions might have suggested.

I debated switching order for those statements (jigdo vs. install ISO(s)). And I probably should have mentioned the [link|http://people.debian.org/~ieure/netinst/|netinst CD installer] which is based on a 150 MB small CDROM image.

Then again, dbootstrap and [link|http://www.knoppix.org/|Knoppix] or [link|http://www.lnx-bbc.org/|LNX-BBC] ... or even [link|http://www.toms.net/rb/|tomsrtbt], do fine for a chroot install (covered in the standard installation instructions, I might add).

Which gets me to a point I've had absolutely no success in trying to impart on our departed friend Addison: there's more than one way to install Debian. Don't fixate on one. Find one that works for you. And be a little fscking flexible already.

Jigdo or ISO: bog vanilla. Standard. Tested. Most people are familiar with it (for those not familiar with the differences: both are essentially the same, but jigdo (the JIGsaw DOwnload) tries to speed things by assembling images from the Debian mirror archive used to distribute package updates rather than from a small number of (usually) outdated and (always) overloaded ISO mirrors).

Netinst or chroot: much more flexibility, less to download, and once you've tried 'em once or twice, likely easier to deal with.