After test-driving numerous distros, as many others in this forum have done, I have settled on three favorites: Linux Mint GNOME, openSUSE KDE, and Mandriva GNOME. I keep Live CDs for each one handy for demonstration and installation purposes. It might be a valuable research project for you to download a few distros and see how well your hardware likes the software. Your hardware, most times, is what makes the decision for you. Visual appearances can be adjusted. Good luck!