Hmmm... what flavour of Linux do you use?

Although I believe that it is probably silly to post what distro one uses, since it probably is dependent upon a variety of factors such as hardware, needs, and prior experience, I still wanted to post my thoughts on the issue as I think I have found the ONE (at least for today anyways).

So to get the hardware issue out of the way, I am currently using a Dell Inspiron 8600 with an additional bluetooth module, and using the Nvidia graphics chipset. A really great laptop I have to say, and I have used many!

My needs are reasonably simple: have fun in a productive environment that includes education and research, with a little gaming and blogging on the side. I also wanted to be stable and to use as much open software as possible.

Finally, my prior experience: well, I have used computers since first programming by pencil on cards that were sent through the card reader, and have never really stopped : unix/PDP-11, TRS-80, Commodore Pet, in the early beginnings up to today.

So what have I chosen and why? Well, I first had my ear turned towards Linux from a co-worker at the University Microstore, who told me about Linux back in 1995. He seemed convinced (for a physicist) and he planted the seed. After many years of debating the Mac vs. Windoze debacle, I finally settled on a very early version of Red Hat. It did not take long to realize this was really something. I eventually began to have different requirements, in particular, a system that could be quickly configured as I tended to wipe the system for another flavour on a regular basis. After trying many more distros such as SuSe, Mandrake, College Linux, and many more, I finally thought I had something with Xandros. Well, it just was not quite there, and I do not like proprietary anything, so I finally thought, lets check out Ubuntu.
Well, I think I am finally there. Ubuntu has done such a great job with my hardware, from wireless networking to the video card (which takes a little work with apt to get going at the start - very minor stuff). It has taken care of the battery monitoring issues and the special keyboard keys so easily I am amazed. Finally, it is gnome-based which I find to be less windozy, and more cozy.
Well, I could rant for ever, but there are my thoughts.