The Linux Mint distribution that was quite famous for not including the Unity desktop that Ubuntu 11.04 came out with is now going back to a simpler Linux desktop. They are further modifying the Gnome Shell desktop and it will include a desktop that has just the bottom panel, as seen with the Linux Mint 8 distribution. The desktop that was included with Linux Mint 12 was quite experimental, but something simpler is definitely called for in this case. Then the distribution will stay true to its roots as a simple and easy to use Linux distribution that is faster and more user-friendly than the Ubuntu Unity desktop. http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/linux-mint-13-gets-back-desktop-basics-185140 This is the key to success for the Linux Mint distribution. The screen shot on this page shows the Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop shell that they have released recently. This desktop looks very nice indeed, with a traditional green Linux Mint desktop theme and a nice GTK theme to boot.
I setratd using Linux in 2000, and I bought my first copy at BestBuy also, it was Mandrake (Mandriva now) and it was called Linux for Windows. Now I am running Ubuntu 10.04 and loving every minute of it.
The Ubuntu 10.04 distribution was the best. The Gnome desktop was very usable and fast compared to the Unity desktop that Ubuntu is lumbered with now. Check out my Linux PDFs at http://www.securitronlinux.com/lc and they are the best resource for studying Linux.