I think gentoo did a good job with doing what you want, as did other operating systems that have similar commands to:

emerge
apt-get
etc...

They essentially find all the needed dependancies.

The problem with newbies more or less is WHAT program to get. With windows it's all just install and go, worst case, go to comp USA and ask someone.

For linux on the other hand, theres thousands of users who all insist the software they use is the best.

Look at internet browsing on linux, there's over 10 programs you can use to effectively browse the internet, and everyone will tell you theirs is the best. And if the noob wants help, the only answer they recieve on chat rooms or forums, is "Run a google search" or "rtfm".

I think that is where the problem lies, not so much a noob friendly OS, they're out there already. What is needed is a noob FAQ that explains everything in detail. I remember starting linux about 5 or 6 years ago completely oblivious to everything and everywhere I turned was a brick wall. Come now, I feel confident in providing help and assistance with most tasks.

The problem with new linux users is the following, in a nutshell:

- They want all their windows programs to still work (which in most cases, won't happen!)
- They want a simple one answer solution, not "Try this, or this or this, and use this method, with this flag and this setup" - that leaves people saying, "HUH?! what does all this mean"

I only say that from a noob -> educated linux user as it's the path I took of people not explaning much or just getting a billion different answers.