Best Linux variety

I prefer using a 2D desktop and I've only used the ubuntu/debian family, so I recommend linux mint 15 Mate edition, whose desktop is a forked and maintained version of the older desktop, Gnome 2. It's ubuntu 13.04 underneath. You mainly have to add google search engine to firefox (and flashblock if you wish), set a wallpaper and you're good to go.

The big contender is the KDE desktop, which allows you to get into KDE oriented distros (Mageia or Suse?) and exists under Ubuntu as well (Kubuntu, Mint 15 KDE) but it's too heavy and flashy for me (and buggy, sometimes). But it's modern and customisable (which you have to do if you hate the default start menu, animations and weird stuff on the desktop)

Xfce is similar to Gnome2/Mate and can be used as an "at least, it works and is usable", I like it on Mint 13 Xfce (which is ubuntu 12.04), less fresh but supported for many years (this is what I can give for an older computer that will run untouched for years). Xubuntu 13.04 for fresher software/drivers.

I can give you a list of stuff I ignore : desktops based on gnome3/gtk3 (so "vanilla ubuntu", gnome 3 and cinnamon though it's not necessarily bad), the Fedora distro, Redhat/CentOS (for servers and corporate stuff), Arch, Gentoo, Slackware (for tinkerers, though I don't do them justice)

LXDE is a great desktop but stagnating, this one makes a Pentium II or III usable even today, not so much meant for your PC.

I don't want to give you much more info, that would be endless. Lots of competition, complexity, petty politics, great promises, flame, stuff that gets aborted or goes in a silly direction.
Also with an Ubuntu base, you can install Steam without any work to do, but for the considerably different distros there are scripts you can find on the web, doing the work.

 

I like Mint as well but I've been using Cinnamon as the interface.

Really though, Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS and up are pretty nice also. Unity has matured and it's really not complete shit gravy anymore.

 

You can turn off the 3D desktop in Ubuntu as well. You have that option when logging in.

 

you could test out some live dvd's
ive been using kanotix (debian) as its one of the few live dvd's that has proper nvidia and amd drivers built in. It also has wine and even steam
I also tried live.linuX-gamers.net dvd but it wouldnt boot on my pc

 

It's 23MB out of a 1GB download (in /usr/share/backgrounds) and is worth it to me, I bet you have them as well.

 

Mint is solid. I also recommend Lubuntu and the new LXLE looks interesting:

http://lubuntu.net

http://lxle.net/

 

Lubuntu is great, but last time I tried it it came with those "worse than Windows 3.1" games which ain't pretty.

 

theres really the question of what you want.

Debian - rock stable, even the experimental branch will be more solid than Ubuntu. stable versions of the software wont change until the next release (means ~2 years). testing branch is available, as is experimental
Ubuntu - new and wacky stuff, fine until something breaks. very "un-linux" (aside from un-windows, un-mac) in many aspects.

If you want to tinker with different wms and other software components id go with debian as base, since most are based on it and not a derivate.
if you want just to play with themes just test a few live cds and see what fits. KDE based distros should be reasonable close to the windows feel btw.

 

I'd say anything Debian based. Ubuntu x.04 (LTS) versions are perfectly fine, and installs in two minutes from a flash USB drive.

If you pick Ubuntu, learn to live with the Unity GUI, once you're over the initial grief (it's unlike any other WMS), you'll be perfectly happy, IMHO.

Cheers

 

Pop OS
Ubuntu
Zorin OS
Linux Mint
Manjaro

Any of those are going to give you a great user experience.