Chris Rowson wrote: > I promise, I'm not trolling! > > I've been moving users across from Windows to Linux for a while now, > with - on the large - reasonable success. Because I use Gnome, and > don't have much experience of using KDE, I've just always installed > Ubuntu by default and not really given Kubuntu the time of day. > > Lately, I've demonstrated Ubuntu to some real computer novices who've > commented "why is the start button at the top", and "why are there two > bars at the top and bottom of the screen", who have then shaken their > heads in disapproval at this deviation from the Windows norm! > > Kubuntu, I notice is much more similar to the interface they know and > love, so it'd make sense that it'd be the best choice for migrating > users from Windows. Is this true? Should I try using Kubuntu as novice > users first Linux distro?
I have installed kde distros for new users who own the machines, and who will be supported personally by me as a friend. I use kde myself although not exclusively, and I still prefer it after a few years of being a newbie. My personal preference is based in its feature rich menus. I tend to recommend it to real windows based newcomers who are intending to go it alone because it looks a bit more like the windows layout initially, and - the menus are feature rich. I believe there is probably slightly less need for command line use initially with kubuntu for example. (versions 7.04, say). With my current experience level and modes of use I am more ready to appreciate gmone, and I use it more now than I used to. I have a installed a few machines for a local charity - with edubuntu - (gnome) - and the users have not had any difficulty at all. However, I will personally have to work harder to manage them because I have always preferred a non cl approach. It is not the end of the world though. I note with special interest that a number of apparently most popular distros are kde based. Suse used to be kde by default, with an easy choice of gnome, there is now pclinuxos, mepis, and maybe others. This is not much of an analysis, but my impression is that kubuntu takes the user a little further away from the command line at least initially, than ubuntu does. I still suggest kubuntu to real newcomers who will have no LUG support or seem as if they will shun cl, for that reason. -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
