VectorLinux or SUSE

Heya, I'm trying to decide on which Linux distro I want to use.

My Experience? I was at the top of the technology tree when DOS was big, and OS-2 Warp, but years of Windows has made me soft and behind the times. So the ability to learn is there and some background in minor programing (DOS, Basic).

I run XP as my primary.

My first Linux experience was with Xandros. I loved it, but it wasn't compatible with my sound. I gave it a year and their new 'pay' version still isn't compatible. I didn't do anything too technical. I parbreastioned installed and played. I learned little but was impressed. Besides the sound compatibility I never ran into any roadblocks.

I recently installed Ubuntu. I was unimpressed from the start. I had problems parbreastioning, which I worked out. I had install problems I worked out. I don't care for their Synaptic package manager. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of gnome either. I have learned a bit about command prompt and various commands which I enjoy and hope to someday master, but I really am still a newbie with this stuff. I'm still using Ubuntu.

9000 128meg graphics card, Liteon DVD and liteon cd burner, USR 56K V92 PCI modem, AMD Athlon XP 2200+ - 256K. 2 HDs. Lexmark X75 Allinone (yes I know everyone hates Lexmark and now I do too, but it's what I have). Networked via crossover cable to an emachine running XP only.

HD 1 is parbreastioned into: NTFS XP Ubuntu Ubuntu Swap Fat32 Data HD 2 is NTFS data

Ubuntu has about 20 gig I believe.

So while I plan to spend a little time learning Ubuntu I'm fairly sure its not the Linux for me. So I've done some research and I'm trying to decide what to try next. VectorLinux and SUSE have both come up on tops in what I've learned.

What I want? Something sleek, fast, flexible, yet still can be shown to straight windows users and impress them. I do need something that allows some ease of use as far as personalizing it. I don't care if the installer is text or graphical as long as its reasonably easy to understand and is configurable. Of course it needs to be compatible with my hardware.

I'm not dead set on SUSE or VectorLinux and also someday want to try Debian, FreeBSD, and some BeOS clone.

I've also toyed with the idea of splitting the 20 gig between SUSE and Vector if that's enough space for them.

Anyhow, I know which distro to use is probably the most used question in the Linux world, but its also the hardest stumbling block for newbies. I'm very much looking for various input. Don't hesitate, lemme know what you think, even if it is selling me on another distro.

I'm looking for free right now. If I'm sure I love a distro I would consider paying in the future. I would have bought Xandros if it'd been compatible.

Thanks for readin my long message!