Ansikt wrote:Replace "Basic Hacking" with "me."
The only differences between the different "versions" of Linux are the programs installed by default - some major ones to consider are the Desktop Environment (sometimes referred to as DE) and the Window Manager (WM). There's also external factors to consider, like community support, and how often the release is updated.
Almost 100% correct, but oftentimes, different distros will use different kernels, due to various reasons. Many also use varyious versions of certain programs (Especially graphical daemons) for compatibility mostly. It can get really confusing for the new user when one "Linux" seems to work fine, and the next is giving them a black screen with a scary looking "x" in the middle.