Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable GNU/Linux desktop distribution.
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu -based distribution ( so Debian based ) whose goal is to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java and other components.
It also adds a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, and a web-based package installation interface.
Linux Mint is compatible with Ubuntu software repositories.

Linux Mint was started as a fork of Ubuntu Linux, while still relying upon the Ubuntu repositories. There are various versions, all free of cost, but some include proprietary codecs, which can not be distributed without license restrictions in certain countries. Linux Mint is quickly supplanting Ubuntu as the world’s most popular desktop Linux solution.

Some of the reasons for the success of Linux Mint are:

It works out of the box, with full multimedia support and is extremely easy to use.
It’s both free of cost and open source.
It’s community-driven. Users are encouraged to send feedback to the project so that their ideas can be used to improve Linux Mint.
Based on Debian and Ubuntu, it provides about 30,000 packages and one of the best software managers.
It’s safe and reliable. Thanks to a conservative approach to software updates, a unique Update Manager and the robustness of its Linux architecture, Linux Mint requires very little maintenance (no regressions, no antivirus, no anti-spyware…etc).