There was a time when you could walk into an office supply store and buy a box of Linux like it was normal.
Seeing a lot of "switch to Linux!" posts floating around, not just here but on other social media sites, and they're almost always overly complicated.
I guarantee you that the people who need to hear this shit the most just want to walk into a store and walk out with a box of "Linux". They don't give a shit about the separation between kernel and userland. They don't care about the GPL or copyleft philosophy. They just want to stop dealing with Microsoft in the most pain-free way possible.
It's already bad enough that there's like ten decent starter distros out there. Choice is paralysis, and it's one of the greatest obstacles the neophyte faces. I'm telling you, even the act of burning a LiveCD or making a LiveUSB of a distro is A LOT TO ASK of almost EVERYONE.
At the very least, we need to be uplifting shops that will create and sell installation media. I know the idea of paying for Linux frequently feels heretical, but people really do need that just-works peace-of-mind reliability of sticking a pre-made DVD or a USB stick in their PC.
Unfortunately, since I'm the kind of person who does put up with the hassle of creating her own installation media, I cannot verify the trustworthiness of any Linux reseller. A cursory search turns up shops like Linux DVD Center or Shop Linux Online. Are they reputable? I have no idea.
But if you know someone who is tired of Microsoft or Apple being dicks, don't send them a ten-page guide. Send them a stick with Linux on it already. Pick out a distro for them. After all, if you know your friend, you should be able to understand what their needs are, right? All that matters is getting them through the door; they can change the rest as they gain more experience.


