From the standpoint of a new user, I would guess the MATE version would be the easier to learn.  The menu is easier to explore, as it is categorized in areas to a degree the LXDE menu is not.  Once a user becomes familiar with Linux menus LXDE is faster, but I remember learning to use Linux from a MATE-like menu (Gnome 2), and it didn't take long.

One suggestion: try www.distrowatch.com, look up the different distros, and look at the screenshots that are linked in the Summary panel.  That will give you an idea of how appropriate it would be.

Once again I thank you, BALLOON!  I thought I would have to go through the whole unpack/install routine - this is much better!

Is it possible to set an admin password in a running Debian system?  I'd like to do that, because I once logged out by mistake from a gksu session and had to restart to have my user password accepted.

Thanks in advance for assisting a newcomer to Debian!

Glad I could contribute my download to that total!