I'd rather have a quizz at first install and user account creation that would ask what users want with sane defaults hiding behind an `I don't know` checkbox (ie: don't configure any mail client if people just use GMail). It would definitely ease the adoption from first users instead of throwing a huge pile of shortcuts to their face when they click the apps menu for the first time.
I would also make it very easy to do the most common first things users do: opening an image, browsing the web, playing music. Don't send them to players/viewers with different UI than the rest of the workspace or ask them what pic viewer they want to use among 4 different apps. First impressions matters :).