Aside from all controversy around snaps and stuff, which newbies don’t have to get into, there’s GNOME coming as default.
Desktop environments essentially define how the new user treats the system and Linux as a whole. And I believe GNOME is a terrible starting point, at least for those coming from Windows.
It follows entirely different logic, is very different visually, and overall, adds a lot of extra confusion.
IMO, for a smooth transition, you’d rather offer something based on KDE or at least Cinnamon. Kubuntu will do fine, but it has to be mentioned specifically. Mint will be nice. And then as they explore, they’ll find what fits them best.
Aside from all controversy around snaps and stuff, which newbies don’t have to get into, there’s GNOME coming as default.
Desktop environments essentially define how the new user treats the system and Linux as a whole. And I believe GNOME is a terrible starting point, at least for those coming from Windows.
It follows entirely different logic, is very different visually, and overall, adds a lot of extra confusion.
IMO, for a smooth transition, you’d rather offer something based on KDE or at least Cinnamon. Kubuntu will do fine, but it has to be mentioned specifically. Mint will be nice. And then as they explore, they’ll find what fits them best.