OK, new thread. I've had 3 people now come onboard using the GNOME desktop on Ubuntu that have been, shall we say "less enthusiastic", about Linux.
Good news. I tried them on the KDE/Kubuntu desktop instead, and found a much greater degree of satisfaction. Not to put too fine a point on it, they were convinced enough by the differences in KDE to keep Linux as their workstation environment as opposed to Windows. Without this experience, I am convinced that all 3 would have reverted to Windows. These were Java/script programming terminals under Eclipse, using Skype extensively. Having seen this, I'm tempted to ask for official policy to be a KDE desktop initially, with both installed. But I'd like to know if some groups of people are or are not better starting off with an Ubunutu desktop vs. a Kubuntu one? Maybe GNOME is easier to start on, or there's some thought process that makes a KDE/GNOME user prone to using their choice? I just don't want to let my personal - Kubuntu - preference colour things. Well, no more than they are now :) I don't want to start a flamewar, honest. I basically want to know if anyone has ever noticed a difference in Linux uptake repeated under reasonably identical conditions and if there is any correlation or distinction with what I'm experiencing. Either way, trying the "other" desktop has to be worth a last-ditch attempt in any event! Vik :v) Vik :v)
