slackware based distros
my preference is slackware based distros
minislack - a trimmed down slack with a 2.6 kernel
frugalware - like slack but more configuration
slax - slackware based live cd
vectorlinux - yes another distro
and others
slackware is the oldest linux distro on the market its the most solid distro around .Its the most unix like in its configuration
and ive used and installed over 125 distros and tested them this seems what i keep coming back to.Im not knocking other distros except for mandrake
i can say that mandrake is as solid as windows tho
there are 3 main distros i use slackware is my preference
debian,slackware, and gentoo ,well fedoras fine but a little too bloated and slow for my taste .
thats my 2 cents
check out evil entity goto www.undeadlinux.com