Whats the most standardized version of linux? One thing thats annoying about different distros of linux, is many things are not in the same locations, or are configured the same way from distro to distro. When im trying to learn something new, i have to look for how to do something specifically for that distro. So what id like to do, is use a distro that when i learn something on it, i can in most(many) situations, use that same process on a different distribution.

I am biased towards Debian.
This choice has come from several years' experimentation
mostly because of issues like this.
Distros like Mandrake, Redhat, TurboLinux, Gentoo...etc all had their
advantages, but (apart from Gentoo) fell by UberNut69's wayside.
You may care to read documents like these:
http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/
http://www.debian.org/social_contract

Contradiction in terms.

Anybody doesn't like every-one else' standard(s), go create your own distro, and make your own standards ...

Such is a byproduct of choice.

Heh, play with NetBSD then

Even Debian does things its own way i.e. not standardised. Just pick a distro you like and use it because they all do some things differently to others.

or specify standards and force the distributors to accept and follow...;-)

Slackware is supposed to be as close to unix as you can get.

I must also say that if you're looking for 'bog-standard', Slackware is the distro to get.

Come on guys!
Lift your game!
At least I provided links to support my case ...
sell your beliefs with fervour! (If you're game)

(Note for the easily offended: I've spent all day in the sun and had a few beers )

http://www.slackware.org/info/

Happy now ?

What the hell does that have to do with the OPs request ???.I get sick to death of all the pontificating about Slack.

And yes, I do have a current Slack installation.

In my opinion, the title of the thread, in combination with the quote
suggests that the OP is looking for ... the most standardized distribution of Linux... because (as I found), using 'the most standardized distribution of Linux' is the only way to learn what Linux does.

If you buy a general Linux book (as opposed to a book that specifically tells you about RedHat or Suse)-- if you're using RedHat or Suse, the book is almost worthless, because RedHat, SuSE, Mandriva, and even my beloved Gentoo (not to mention Debian), all deviate from the Unix standard.

Slackware does not.

If you buy a book, or read a general how-to, and it says, "to do thus-and-so, go to /etc/whatever, and edit whatever.conf," under Slack, the file will be named "whatever.conf", and you will find it in /etc/whatever. Because Slack is standard. Under Fedora Core, the file may be named somethingelse.conf, and found in /etc/not/whatever-- it will be found, somewhere, but it will be found and named something that the Fedora Core/SuSE/Mandriva/Gentoo/Debian dev team changed from the standard, which is confusing to people.

My understanding of the question is that the OP is looking to gain the foundational skills of using Linux, after which (s)he can learn the variations--- and if you want the standard foundational skills, then Slack is the place to get them. I can honestly say that I couldn't use Gentoo today if I hadn't used Slack first-- it gave me the basic skills to not be completely at sea, and the confidence to recognize that I was capable of understanding and managing Gentoo.

Because of my experience, that was my understanding of the question, and since Slackware had worked for me for a purpose that seemed awful similar to what the OP was trying to accomplish, I recommended it to the OP.

Wasn't aware that anyone was 'pontificating'.

Yes, beer tastes even better now Thanks.

Not quite as verbose as the Debian equivalent, though!

Congratulations, read the subject line and take a good dose of *BSD before bed.
Translation: suck it up

Current score:
Slackware: 2
Debian: 1
others: nil

Whoa, you must type fast...

Who cares if Slack is close to Unix - if the OP can't use what s/he learns easily on other distros, the request is unfulfilled.

The "pontifical" comment wasn't specific (or personal) - nor am I about to retract it.