I was distro hopping for years but I have settled on Linux Mint 15 64 bit with the Cinnamon desktop. However I removed their kernel and installed Ubuntus kernel 3.11 for the swap and file features in 3.11. I also removed the latest Synaptic 0.82 EXP due to instabilites in it (its an experimental version) and installed the older Synaptic 0.75. It seems to be the source of most if not all LM's present bugs. This has given me the first truly stable, rock solid linux ever. It is awesome and beats windows so badly that I simply stopped using it. LM Mate is also very nice if you want the traditional desktop look but Cinnamon looks so nice that I favor it. Also Cinnamons' features are growing rapidly. If you go with Mate make sure to do the two main tweaks I did for stability. Note: When you uninstall Synaptic, Mints update manager uninstalls with it so you need to reinstall it as well. Oh, if you are looking for Linux that will turn your old slow unusable Netbook into a genuine laptop that works use PCLinuxOS Mate . Its unreal. Turned my worthless HP Mini 1110NR into a tool I use everyday.
Linux Mint 15 all the way. The cinnamon Edition is great, but MATE seems more stable (less eyecandy too) for me...You may feel free to use any window manager, except kdm. KDM is so bloated it will nearly kill any average system. Last use was unbearable on Phenom IIx4955be with 4GB ram... Mint is based on ubuntu also available in Debian edition for the "Stability Freaks". BTW I prefer the Liquorix Kernel. Like previous poster I have not looked back. I even have my mother using it and it has cut way down on the hassle of "tech support" and repairs! linuxmint.com /download.php
My Distro i am using my own modified Ubuntu 13.04 ......... with kali Linux tool and RPM manager tool .......... with all programming and music , video , image , editor tool & office , Businesses , Kundali tool .......... with modified boot screen and with compiz and cairo and almost all basic library like sdl ........ i call that OS Ubuntu extron ............
OpenSuse 13 is what I use. My desktop is dual booted with it and Win 7.. Went from Ubuntu after I saw what a mess 10.04 was, to PCLOS until I grew tired of having repository issues and then went to OpenSuse which has been great.. Been running about a yr now.