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Linux Distros Designed for Former Windows Users Are Picking Up Steam | Linux Journal
(www.linuxjournal.com)
this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2025
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I don't truly understand things like this. Most DE's are similar enough to Windows that anyone who's spent a minute on a computer should be able to intuitively get to a web browser to surf the web. That's what most people do. Word processing and the likes is tough since most are ingrained in Office, but something like (pukes in mouth) Google sheets is decently popular and good enough for most people.
If you give most someone a computer with a browser and auto updates, they'll be able to do almost everything they are already doing on Windows with minimal thought.
There are exceptions, but those people suck at Windows already, so it's a moot point. If you can't find the start menu in Windows, it doesn't matter what OS you're using.
funny you should say it like that. I just recently I tried using Debian's default GNOME desktop and thought I had corrupted the install somehow. I reinstalled the OS two more times because it kept dumping me into a nearly blank screen with no obvious buttons to click aside network/sound/power.
I'm used to LXDE, KDE, and Cinnamon, so this was completely foreign to me... and trying to find the web browser had me at a caveman level of confusion.
Debian was not a great choise, it is not for beginners. I wonder why you chose that one.
If you want to try again, I recommend using a distribution that is recommended for beginners. For example Ubuntu.
It's people with attitudes such as yours that give Linux a bad name. Your response to someone who's just told you that they're used to 3 different Linux DEs is that they must be a beginner and should use a beginner distro is the height of arrogance. The person you responded to is clearly not a beginner, and that's the response you have for them when they share their totally valid experience? Shameful.
Then I misread it. He seemed like he expected a beginner-friendly experience.
If he is experienced, and use Debian as an example of how Linux is not beginner-friendly, then he must be trolling.
I do agree: Debian can be a bit tedious to set up and upgrade at times. It would not be my choice if you had to install a Linux distribution for the first time with no help. But, if you were able to set it up then you're good, no reason to change now.