Which Linux distribution to choose?

The easiest answer to the above question is simply to choose the Linux distribution that is right for you, but how do you know what is right for you before even having tried the distribution?
Distrowatch could be of great help in leading you in the right direction with their short description of different distribution and also by ranking their popularity. My obvious choice is to choose those running a gnome desktop it's quite simply much better than KDE, but that's my opinion.
You could also try the different distibutions by installed virtual machine software like vmware player or Suns Virtualbox, if you don't like the distribution just delete it and go on "hunting".
I am no trying out Sabayon Linux 4.1 Gnome 64 bits ver. live iso through Suns Virtualbox