Question:
...what's your favorite distro, and why?

Answer:
gentoo - *everything* (from compiler, kernel, other sw) is compiled native and optimized for your CPU. It takes a while to build and certainly would be inappropriate for corporate applications where you want lots of identical boxes, but for a one-off box that you'll use a lot, it's great.
It's old data, but about 6 years ago I was on a project where we had a customized kernel based on RedHat and a Gentoo build. The Gentoo build outperformed RedHat by about 30%.
Gentoo also keeps a nigh-comprehensive build library, making installing and/or updating open source software relatively easy.

Answer:
I use linux mostly on live CDs, since my mac is the only computer I really "need" and I never even turn my desktops on, let alone mess around with them like I did back in the day.
I used to use Knoppix live cds for the software and the wide software support, but that was before I knew that the other distros made live cds as well. Now I carry a set of Ubuntu 6.10 live cds (x86 and ppc versions) in case I need a computer to do something that windows disagrees with (in the case of ppc computers, it can just be fun to play around on). Ubuntu is stable and intuitive enough that I would trust my mom to be able to get things done on it.
I haven't used the more advanced/specialized distros; like I said, my needs are pretty simple. I did use the dynabolic distro, but it was teh lame.
-ben

Answer:
Morphix and Knoppix live CDs. When my computer at work is out of action and I can't do anything, it will still load these two distributions and give me some interesting games to play.
Renato

Answer:
How exciting to be asked about one of my other passions! I have used Linux (and BSD) since about 1998 or 1999, and I have been 100% Microsoft-free at home and in the office since 2001. I have used Caldera, Debian, TurboLinux, Mandrake, Lycoris, Knoppix, Red Hat, SuSE, FreeBSD, and probably some others that I do not remember.
Now, I use Ubuntu at the office, for several reasons:

• It is free.
• It is available on one CD.
• It is Debian-based and therefore easy to upgrade.
• It is Gnome-based, which is my preferred desktop.
• It has excellent hardware detection.
• It includes my preferred applications.
• It provides a very slick desktop.

On my laptop and at home, I am using Puppy Linux, for several reasons:

• It is a very small download.
• It boots from the CD so I do not have to install or upgrade.
• It runs entirely from RAM so it is fast on my old hardware.
• It also has excellent hardware detection.
• It includes my preferred applications.

Answer:
Thanks for the replies.
Based on research, I've narrowed my choices down to Gentoo and Ubuntu (I know, these two are polar opposites).
I'm going to start playing around with Ubuntu on a triple-boot machine at work (Ubuntu, Vista, and XP).
Cheers!

Answer:
Originally Posted by Octothorpe Based on research, I've narrowed my choices down to Gentoo and Ubuntu. A great resource is www.distrowatch.com for learning which distros include what version of what, which have live CDs, et cetera.