Say a friend is looking for a new system, and said person is not particularly savvy with technology, what system would you point them toward?
Depends, what do they wanna do with it?
Otherwise just the OS they are most comfortable with.
If they are equally uncomfortable with all options, and have only the most rudimentary requirements, probably a tablet using the same OS as their phone.
If they genuinely wanted to take my opinion on the best choice, even if it meant learning, Linux. Probably something like Mint to start.
If you are mainly gaming, Bazzite. For everything else, Fedora.
At this point genuinely linux. For everyday shit like browsing, mailing, whatever, for sure.
Apple is just… Apple. I guess. Windows is an ad.
Linux is the new “it just works”.
What do they want to do?
An iPad with a keyboard can serve the needs of a significant amount of users. I know people for whom it’s their only device apart from a phone.
A hardcore gamer will want Windows. Linux can play a lot better of games natively or fairly easily via Proton. macOS has some good ones natively but playing via Wine is more complicated. Some specialized industry workflows will require it. Windows-only games and applications are the only reason to recommend Windows.
Mac/macOS is great general purpose hardware and software. Good applications are available for art, science, engineering and productivity and it’s certified Unix. The ecosystem can be slick—Handoff from/to iPhone, unlock with Watch, TimeMachine backups, etc. Support people are usually native speakers from the same country. Some good native games and some through Wine are possible but Window and Linux have significantly more.
Linux can work for basic email, productivity and web browsing. Gaming choices are better than macOS but Windows is still better. They don’t have to worry about ads or the next interface fad being forced on them. They’ll likely need a bit more hand-holding and support down the road. They’ll need a Linux guy but they can be up and running on old/cheap hardware.
This is the first sane comment that understands OS is determined by use case. All the skids pushing mint are depressing.
Ask the person questions and find out what they want to do with the machine. This is very much the kind of question teenagers ask and confidently answer like what programming language is best.
Can confirm. A tablet can do about 99% of what people usually expect from a computer. Gamers and professionals are an exception to this rule.
Usually people just want to check their email, browse news and watch YouTube. Any tablet these days is good enough for that kind of basic use. However, OP specifically asked about desktops, so I guess we are talking about someone who does have particular requirements after all.
iOS
Are we assuming this person has never used any other operating system before?
Because I do think a lot of the perception of Linux being more difficult is just because people who grew up on Windows or MacOS have gotten so used to those that the inertia of trying something new is what’s hard about it.
The person described may have some Windows or Mac experience at school or work, maybe they got an iPhone or Android but never considered getting their own computer.
I’d probably recommend a Mac for now. I can’t in good judgement recommend windows anymore.
Mac is solid and still respects your privacy to a certain degree.
Linux would be my second. Probably Zorin OS.
If you grew up with Windows, it’s intuitive and easy to you. That Doesn’t mean it’s intuitive for anyone else. Kids are super confused about Windows these days.
Anyway, I would still recommend Windows because everything is designed to work with it. Normies don’t troubleshoot. They just give up and move on. In this regard, you would want something that requires the least amount of troubleshooting. Every OS sucks in this regard, so I just don’t have a clear winner here. Windows might still be the least infuriating one though.
However, if they did troubleshoot, they would probably enjoy Linux. Those error messages actually tell you what’s wrong and how to fix it. Meanwhile in Windows, the errors are pretty much useless. You’ll end up reading a bunch of forum posts where nobody knows what’s causing the problem, let alone how to fix it. The best you’ll get is a list of 15 things to try. Just hope that at least one of them works. If you have a problem in Linux, you’ll usually find a forum post where someone tells you exactly what’s causing it and how to fix it.
Normies haven’t heard of privacy, and they also watch TV ads. Windows will be fine. They just won’t see any reason to switch to Linux.
I’ve used Windows all my life (40 now) but the changes made in the last 10 or so years (since win 7 and forward have left me in a place where i feel Im super confused about even the freaking folder structure. Its partly on me becouse I havent kept up, but also, I havent asked for any of the shit they have done “recently”. I switched to Kubuntu about a year ago and nothing has been easier. Anyway, My recomendation would be a any linux distro, havent tried mint but from what people are saying it’s stable and easy so probably that one, but mostly because my feeling is that most Linux based OSs dont change stuff just for the sake of changing (someone will probably let med know the exceptions to this rule). But really, I think that the normal user dont want but to re-learn how to do something they allready knew how to do in an earlier version if there isnt a very good reason for it.
i just erased windows 11 and replaced it with Linux Mint Cinnamon- not easy for me as I haven’t used anything but apple ecosystem since forever, but I’m extremely happy with it, and the upgrade in privacy is worth it to me even if it weren’t an excellent OS, which it definitely is. you just have to be willing to learn new things
Nice post to stir some shit, OP. 🍿
🍿
Linux
Unless you are looking to learn nix, go with Windows or Apple.
Unless you made sure all the hardware works and you want to fuck around Linux ain’t for normies despite what this forum is going to screech at you.
I agree. I am probably going to put my 70+ year old on Linux mint but I’ll have to do tech support
I’ve done so decades ago & they only ever needed me for distro upgrades (now not even that in Tumbleweed).
They never bought Windows or macOS only hardware.
What sort of things do you expect to tech support them (that would differ from them using mac or win)?
(Aside from the initial os install.)
Windows is the most common, and most people are more accustomed to that OS.
if they’re just doing web browsing - linux
if they have an iphone - macos
really depends what they want to do
MacOS
There’s a rule you should learn. Never ever recommend Apple shit to people.
There is another rule you should learn too: don’t showcase your Apple envy more than twice in the same thread.
See, there’s the face of the fanbase. Poor people think Apple is expensive. I gave away my Macbook after a few weeks because it sucked and because I can 😏
It’s important to protect potential customers of becoming like you.
My Fedora/KDE setup is superior in any regard. The only thing Apple is better at is screwing their idiot buyers.
His Apple hatred knows no bounds.You mean corporate hate?
Keep sucking off your overlords.
What do you think about Microsoft and Windows?
Even Windows users don’t like Windows. Unless someone is setting up LTSC to avoid feature updates to not get AI crap and ads I would avoid Windows for the average consumer.
As a Fedora user - Apple has better security. Linux doesn’t do everything better.
The French call that «l’issue du skill». Privacy and security start in your mind.
I said security. Privacy is related but different.
And you know that the answer is the same ;)
Apple users are the easiest to scam because they … well, bought Apple.
Is this some kind of a bot?
I don’t think he’s a bot, just someone who wants to shit-talk for the fun of it.
Check for yourself Schluppi. You seem a bit lost online.
At this point, I would also second MacOS/iOS just because of how much the two synergize with one another. But if you’re just doing basic shit and web browsing, iOS cause at least you can hold onto your phone for a long while before feeling the need to upgrade again.
An immutable Linux system. Especially if there a total noon.
I like Zorin Linux.
I would not wish Window on my worst enemies.
