Which environment is better for novices: KDE or GNOME?
 

I'm thinking of purchasing a computer for one of my relatives who is smart but not computer-literate. I want to make their experience as user-friendly and complete as possible. I used to use KDE 3.1, and then switched to GNOME 2.4, which I'm using right now.

However, even though I've used both environments (and IceWM/GNUstep ::not fun::), I'm not sure if GNOME or KDE would be better for novices. Which would be best, in your opinion?

Have both installed, let the user decide which they like better. Why should our opinions matter when its something as simple as letting the person using it decide? ;)

Good point, the thing is I'd like to get them using it as quickly as possible, and I won't be there for long to support it, so I can't help them uninstall anything in that regard.

Either, you can leave both of them installed. Its upto your relative to choose. Id personally say gnome, but i can use kde just as well.

Go with Gnome.