MEPIS was designed as an alternative to SUSE Linux, Red Hat Linux, and Mandriva Linux (formerly Mandrake) which, in the creator Warren Woodford's opinion, were too difficult for the average user.
MEPIS byl navržen jako alternativa k SUSE Linuxu, Red Hat Linuxu a Mandriva Linuxu (dříve Mandrake), která byla podle Warrena Woodforda příliš obtížná pro průměrného uživatele.