Mint is based on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian. LMDE is being built alongside Linux Mint and is based only on Debian.
Linux Mint and LMDE are functionally the same, but LMDE is protection/insurance against Ubuntu doing something stupid.
I highly recommend Linux Mint (cinnamon) as an entry level Linux distro. It looks and feels similar to Windows, and it’s based on Ubuntu, so it has a lot of support and compatibility.
Linux Mint Debian Edition
I’ve started using an open source trackball mouse. It’s infinitely repairable, and easily reprogrammable.
The Ploopy thumb is at least as good as the Logitech M570, probably better.
I thought that open source just meant that you could read the source.
I have a friend who’s 91. He just started using Linux, and has had only minor issues that I was able to fix in seconds.
It’s nowhere near as difficult as it was 10 years ago.
If updates didn’t randomly delete user data I’d be slightly less worried.
Xed
It opens quickly