Mesa

Widespread application compatibility is there for Windows devices. Whatever they feel like they need to install at any point in the future, there's an unequivocally higher chance that they'll be able to get it if they're using a Windows device.

If they're specifically looking to get a PC, I'm assuming they're wanting more capability than what their phone can give them. So whatever that thing is, they will more than likely have more options using a Windows machine.

Without more information, I'm not recommending a Linux system in an absolute manner. I'm glad things worked out in your anecdote.

Definitely a regional thing.

Most notably, the region of the United States in the Americas.

I'm a Windows hater, but I can't in good conscience recommend Mac because of the vendor lock-in, and I'm not going to recommend Linux to someone just needing a computer to use when they need it.

Let's not joke ourselves. I would, however, offer to install Enterprise LTSC and disable as much of the telemetry as possible. After that point, their privacy is in their own hands, but I'll offer as many tips as I can.

If they are even slightly technically inclined and I know them enough to know they are capable of any level of troubleshooting, I'd recommend Mint.

I've still got my first bass clarinet which is a Yamaha. Still plays great for what my dad paid for it.

Can you honestly say that you didn't come to this thread looking for this fight?

I dual boot Kubuntu and Windows Enterprise LTSC for the best of both worlds, at the price of a little bit of redundant storage. There's pros and cons to both. I think being able to recognize that is all the other user was initially saying, rather than pretending like they're not there.

It's also why I feel like the answer isn't in the spirit of the question: each of the major OSes hit a different type of user, and you just admitted that the snobs and elitists mostly exist on the Linux side (and Mac), which is true.

Right. Of the major operating systems, I think none of them are good answers for this. Too close of a market share to really be in the spirit of the question, and they all really do hit different markets.

Definitely.

Tastes like vomit to me too. To be clear, I was NOT eating Hershey's. I was playing make-believe.

Which is crazy considering how unpopular Adobe is.

Relevant video.

I was using it as a counter-example.

I think it's hard to fit software into this question because typically when a product is made, there isn't as large of a need to make a cheaper / more accessible product on account of larger teams typically meaning faster features, and cracked versions existing. They exist, but they're almost always less feature-complete, and there's a different type of user that seeks out an open-source alternative.

That said, I think FFmpeg is a good entry here.

I've got a guy like this now. I'm sure he does what he does perfectly fine, but I watched him struggle to identify a very obvious bug he pushed to production which disabled an entire function. It's a little different now when I see him being snarky with other team members...