Hello

If you had a reason to or NOT recommend linux to someone what would it be?

For me, if a family, friend or colleague has some technical savvy I may mention linux to them as an alternative.

If they're not, that is they never installed an operating system or are not familiar with computer/network terms then I leave them be with their current OS.

The problem with the later is, if you recommend linux to these people, you'll have to be the go to guy when a linux issue arises.

Sure, you may be able to fix some issues for them but if you can't they'll get angry at you.

"Linux is NOT Windows."

If someone is too stupid to tie their own shoes, than I would NOT recommend Gnu/Linux.

If some wanted to use older hardware that they couldn't get any version os MS Windows to work on, I would recommend Gnu/Linux. If someone was worried about security or stability, than I would recommend Gnu/Linux. If someone just wanted to have fun and learn something new, than I would recommend Gnu/Linux.

I would be, and I am, very willing to help teach people, if they are willing and able to learn. I do not mind taking the time to do that. This actually applies to MS Windows users as well as Gnu/Linux. However, just because someone knows where the ON switch is, doesn't mean they know anything about computers or security or know how to apply common sense in todays digital world. That is frustrating, to say the least. But I will keep trying.

I almost never recommend Linux. If someone is interested in what I use and why I use it I will explain it and if they ask if I would install it for them I explain the implications, for example that Windows software will not run out of the box, if it runs at all.
If they still want to try it I have no problem with installing Linux and helping them to understand it. On the other hand, I use Linux without exception on systems that I maintain for general usage, like a Jukebox-PC in a party room, but with mostly software that looks Windows-like (for example with LXDE as desktop, since it somewhat resembles XP, and Audacious in its Winamp lookalike mode).
From my experience, most people use their systems as appliance, they want it to function as they are used to, they want the software running on it that they are used to, they don't want to learn something new. It is difficult for them to understand why they can play a Facebook game in Firefox on Windows (using the newest Flashplayer), while it simply doesn't work in the Firefox version for Linux (due to the limitation to Flashplayer 11.2).
Actually they don't really care what causes such problems, if it doesn't work than Linux is not usable for them.

I don't recommend it but if they answer my ad on the radio for a cheap netbook.

Well then, tough ti__y. I show them what boots up. If they buy it. It's theirs. I actually got a cell phone call after selling my eeepc 701SD with Slack0 Puppy Linux about how to go through free wifi again.

I had a html doc loaded in my documents folder and told them open that baby up.

With respect. Why wouldn't people recommend Gnu/Linux to people. Granted some distros are for advanced users, but some are not. Many people want the basics. Email, Youtube, Facebook and such. They do no more than that and Gnu/Linux can do that just as well as MS Windows. Granted, there are some things that MS Windows does better, for now, but for the most part Gnu/Linux does all of the basics plus.

In the past I recommended linux. But people wanted to use Linux exactly in the same way as wanted to use Windows, with the same applications/software.
Maybe I am not good to motivate, but if you want a dog handling as if it were a cat, then you should get a cat.

However, the moment they want to do anything more advanced then Windows becomes the better choice. Want to walk down to the local game store and pick up a game for your PC, can't do that with Linux, and before anyone goes down the "dual boot to Windows when you need to" route, that automatically assumes more advanced knowledge.
Many things, but I'm not starting another holy-war.

So, to answer the OP, having used computers from the dawn of the PC (I had my first "home" computer in 1981 when I was 15) through to PCs becoming a household commodity item I have to say that for a "first time" computer users I'd only recommend Windows. I've found that if anyone has to ask me if Linux would be good for them for a desktop/laptop then the answer is no.

Pick Windows if you want play games(Games with big G not games with small g) or specific software requires it otherwise dual-boot or choose one of these because everything else is no more Windows monopoly.

Find out where their mindset is at.

If they're a "System Co-Dependant" i.e. someone that looks to some sort of system as their "Nanny", to make decisions for them, to cage them and provide their parameters of operation? RUN! RUN AWAY! They're not interested in independance and will be a constant burden expecting you to hold their hand. Providing fish for them!

If they're interested in their own independance Start 'em off. Re-affirm the idea of "they're responsible for their own stuff". This mindset would only require showing them how to search for their own answers effectively. Teaching them how to fish!!!!

I'll mention to people that I use Linux, and I might say something about open source software. But I don't recommend Linux to anyone. I figure they've got brains; let 'em use 'em to decide for themselves what they should use. The info's out there.

I agree with the general sentiments here. If you want to recommend "a Linux" to someone, point to their Android phone. That is a Linux for the general public. If you want to point them, for some reason, to "a Unix," point them to OS/X or to their iPhone. Ditto.

Generally speaking, "the operating system is secondary." It is ... is always ... just a means to an end. And, no one (other than geeks) care about the means, just as no one other than an auto mechanic these days cares to lift the hood.

The only good reason to "recommend <Windows | OSX | Linux>" is that there is a purpose for it, and, if that be true, talk only about the purpose.

People who already know what they are doing will find Linux on their own.

I have tried that back in the days I promoted Linux. Set up a dual boot system for people to try. The problem became pretty obvious after a pretty short time: For the normal user there is nothing that they can do with Linux that they can't with Windows. When they reboot to Windows to play a game, why again should they reboot to Linux to surf the net? They can do that on Windows in the same way and even better (as my example with Flash games above showed).
Dual boot is not an option for the normal user, it just doesn't make sense for them.

Thanks to all