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.

Linux mint

If they are not savvy enough to do troubleshooting themselves or have no one to ask for help, I think macOS would be the best (assuming money isn’t an issue). Otherwise, Linux Mint.

Fedora, now it's shockingly easy to use.

I silently replaced windows in the home PC and it took 2 months for the tech illiterate SO to say "WTF, why you put Apple on this PC, I thought you hated them" (put same username/password, same wallpaper, even Microsoft Edge)

At work I was shocked that I could login directly as user@windows.domain without any extra configuration. Plain vanilla fresh install, typed my active directory account for laughs, it worked 😲

Also at work I was shocked to see that I could just run the exe of the windows-only accounting software and everything works. I even installed LibreOffice in wine, lol (the accounting software needs soffice.exe for generating spreadsheets). I could even install foxit reader for windows 😂 (sorry, all the Linux PDF readers completely suck when printing, I need previews and booklet and all the extra features)

TempleOS

Linux (probably mint or zorin), unless they need some specialty software ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

If this average user doesn't need to use Microsoft or Apple software, Fedora Workstation Linux. My dad, who is 78 and of average intelligence can use it, anyone can.

Linux can run on older, used hardware, has no AI, no Apple or Microsoft account required.

If you are mainly gaming, Bazzite. For everything else, Fedora.

Linux. Hands down. Always.

New user? Try Kubuntu Linux

Power user? Eh, you can try anything but I'm still with Kubuntu because Ubuntu with KDE just works so damned nice

Whatever Linux is being sold pre-installed on a machine within their budget.

Told my dad to buy a Dell laptop with Ubuntu preinstalled after his last Windows laptop died. He's been fine with that for the last 5 years.

Point blank generic recommendation? MacOS.

Otherwise, Linux is the endgame, so it's a matter of talking to the person to see what software is essential for them.

MacOS if they can afford it. Otherwise Linux Mint.

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.

Nice post to stir some shit, OP. 🍿

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.

Mint and no shit.

From my perspective, it kinda depends on what phone your friend has.

If they have an iPhone, and want to be able to integrate both systems, then macOS. If they're on Android, then Mint.

Prior to my shift to Linux, I was all in on Apple. My MacBook, iPad and iPhone all worked beautifully together. These days I have a Pixel running Graphene, and my computing is a mix of macOS and Kubuntu, and while I'm using Kubuntu my iPad is basically useless. KDE Connect is spotty at best, and while SyncThing theoretically works, it's too much of a faff to bother setting up. Oh, and Apple Music is essentially non-existent on Linux if you value lossless audio.

However, there are ways to integrate. Signal works well across the platforms for messaging, and even WhatsApp to some extent. Firefox is decent enough on iPad so you can sync tabs across. And WinBoat will run Apple Music in a VM, though that obviously takes a reasonable amount of utility from your computer.

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".

iOS.

Linux only if they can follow directions.

Average user needs their computer mainly as a device to run a web browser. Mac does that the most reliably. This seems objectively true to me.

If they're a nerd, then either Linux or Windows depending on what kind of nerd they are.

Windows for gaming.

Debian Linux

I have installed it for several computer illiterate old ladies. They swear by it.

Apple for sure. I dislike them personally, but their OS has a great UI/UX and is very user friendly. And their stuff just works together really seamlessly.

But, if all they do is browse the Internet, Linux is also a good option as long as you're ready to set it up for them and answer questions. I switched my 75yo mom to Mint when Win10 hit EoL and she hasn't had an issue.

Nearing my 60s, very satisfied Linux Mint user. Obviously, it all depends what the user expects from their computer.

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

MacOS combines user friendliness, easy learning curve, seamless integration with other devices, and reliability.

It’s what I’d recommended to anyone who wants to use a computer without having to deal with the aggravation of dealing with a computer.

The amount of people who spend thousands of dollars on MacBooks to just open up Safari makes me want to believe the average person could just have a ThinkPad with Mint or regular Ubuntu and be just fine. But the reality is if you run into a solvable issue on Windows or a MacBook, usually the degrees of separation from someone (friend or family member) who can solve that issue is much, much, much lower. I just seriously doubt most people can conduct the bare minimum of troubleshooting to be able to even search the internet for easy solutions. Can people learn? Absolutely! Are they going to go through the trouble? Probably not.

But who knows, as personal computing becomes more expensive and system requirements stop people from updating. Maybe more people look to Linux as an alternative and perhaps we'll reach a critical mass where my previous statement doesn't matter.

MacOS.

I hate Apple, and I do not like how they operate. But I cannot deny how user friendly their OS is, how affordable their machines are (Mac mini) and how even those who do not know how to use a PC, can pick them up and use them.

Linux Mint is my second choice

Only Linux which feels like a normal PC, and 99% of features can be installed via UI. There are holes, and I feel an immutable OS would fill this niche better, but for now this is my number 2.