Linux
General Procedures: These are the procedures that apply for any Linux distro.
antiX Linux: This is my main distro. I use version M8.2 for compatibility with a wireless card for a laptop used by a group I belong to. (Version M8.5 lacks this compatibility.) antiX Linux has low hardware requirements, is user-friendly, and has a top-notch software repository. This is the gold standard against which I compare other Linux distros.
Puppy Linux: This used to be my main distro but is now my backup distro. Puppy Linux has low hardware requirements and is user-friendly but has a weak software repository. I use Puppy Linux for interfacing with my scanner and digital camera and for burning CDs and DVDs.
Linux distros that I no longer use
Fedora: Fedora Core 1 was my first Linux distro because the CD came with the book Linux For Non-Geeks. Fedora Core 1 showed me that Linux can be user-friendly, but there were many things that I couldn't get to work. From what I've heard, more recent versions of Fedora support Flash and other functions out-of-the-box. Unfortunately, Fedora's hardware requirements have escalated substantially since version 1.
Damn Small Linux: This was my second Linux distro. Damn Small Linux showed me that a very lightweight Linux distro can be user-friendly. However, the software repository was weak there were still many things that I couldn't get to work. In my opinion, Damn Small Linux can't compete with Puppy Linux when it comes to supporting functions and hardware. It doesn't help that this distro has become dormant and out-of-date. Its old version of Firefox no longer works properly out-of-the-box.
Ubuntu Linux: Ubuntu has a top-notch software repository. Due to its popularity, support is excellent. Ubuntu has a reputation for being very user-friendly in its full installation, but that means high hardware requirements that my computers don't meet. Ubuntu is less bloated when you make a minimal command-line only installation and then add just the packages you need, but that makes it less user-friendly. If your computer has high enough specs, then Ubuntu will work for you, but remember that this distro has a track record of escalating hardware requirements and discontinuing support for the older, less bloated versions.
Linux distros that I tried but rejected immediately
Debian Linux: Debian's strengths are its support, stability, and software repository. This is why so many distros are derived from Debian. However, Debian itself is NOT user-friendly. I had to download and install a package just to reboot or shut down properly. Leave this distro to the Linux experts who know how to tweak it to make all of their important functions work properly.
Crunchbang Linux: This distro is derived directly from Ubuntu. Its selling points are compatibility with the superior Ubuntu software repository and low hardware requirements. I tried Crunchbang, but I didn't find it user-friendly. I couldn't find most of the programs in the main menu or figure out how to make changes in the desktop. Leave this distro to the Linux experts.
Dreamlinux: Although this distro is made in Brazil, you don't need to know any Portuguese to use it. On the plus side, Dreamlinux is user-friendly, derived from Debian stable, and is compatible with the superior Debian repository. While it has lower hardware requirements than Ubuntu and other heavy distros, it's still much heavier than antiX Linux and Puppy Linux. I had difficulty getting the installer to work. I probably overlooked something, but I didn't bother to find out more, as it doesn't measure up to antiX Linux.
TinyCore: This distro is only 10 MB. While it was fast, I didn't find it user-friendly. I couldn't find most of the programs in the main menu or figure out how to make changes in the desktop. Leave this distro to the Linux experts. If I were using a computer from the Windows 95 era, perhaps I'd be better motivated to work with this distro.
SliTaz: This distro is only around 30 MB. Unlike the case with TinyCore, I was able to browse the web. However, the fonts were extremely large, forcing me to scroll to the right to read the entire line. I wasn't able to figure out how to fix this problem. I probably overlooked something, but I didn't bother to find out more, as it doesn't measure up to antiX Linux or Puppy Linux. If I were using a computer from the Windows 95 era, perhaps I'd be better motivated to work with this distro.