The startup time alone would be unacceptable.

In my experience after the install it's totally intuitive. And the install is getting better and better. I'm hoping Linux will take over the world. You go Linux.

Using things like the command line isn't writing code.

Try that one. It's pretty user-friendly and you don't need to write code for it...and you can boot it off of a thumb drive or just take it for a spin off of a thumb drive to see if you/she likes it.

I use Ubuntu Studio for music and video production (as well as daily use) and love it. Whenever I use my Win 10 box (like I did today) I want to set fire to the thing.

My journey to Linux was about 10 years in the making. Back in 2008, I had a laptop with Vista. I did not like Vista. I was not able to install Linux on my laptop. I paid a computer guy to install Linux on my laptop. It worked, but there was an issue was Wifi. Neither one of us could get Wifi to work consistently on my laptop running Linux. So, I switched to using a Mac.

I was a Mac user for about 10 years. My love affair with Mac ended because Apple started making iMacs and laptops with components (hard drive, memory, etc.) that were soldered into to machine and could not be easily upgraded or repaired. Also, Apple (and other computer manufacturers) made laptops so thin and light that there were over-heating issues. On Macs, the CPU would throttle down when it got too hot from being in such a tight space.

About a year ago, I bought a desktop from System76 that runs Linux Mint. So far, I like it very much.

As far as your friend's situation goes, I would guess that there is a good chance that Linux could be installed on her 10 year-old HP PC. However, I am inclined to not recommend this. Software availability for Linux is still not as common as it is for Windows or Mac. For example, not all printers are compatible with Linux because of driver issues.

I would recommend that she replace the hard drive on the HP PC with a solid-state drive, and install Windows 10 on it, if Windows 10 is compatible with the 10 year-old hardware. Otherwise, she should consider buying a new machine.

Rocks. Moved from Microsoft to mint 3 yrs ago as my daily machine.

The reason I didn't go to Mint on my way refurbished Dell business laptop is that my policy is not to change anything regarding technology until I absolutely have to. It's always a Time sink. But I do adore Linux Mint.

I actually ordered a Linux Mint refurbished Dell when I thought my old one had been stolen out of a van that I took to a programming contest. And then my old computer mysteriously came back. I should have kept that Linux Mint refurbished that I ordered, but I gave it to Goodwill.

Now I'm sorry, I should have taken the trouble. It's just that changing technology always means a Time sink to me. Maybe I'll order another refurbished Dell with Linux Mint. They don't cost much.

Thoroughly before I started using it again. But I still wish that I had kept the one with Linux Mint already installed and gone to the trouble of copying over my stuff. Even my printmaster, as I understand you can get a pretty good Windows emulator to run your old programs.

Got the one I gave to Goodwill. I found out later they're actually organizations for that, but Goodwill here has a technology store that I hope people who need a cheap computer would go to.

I checked it out running from USB. I loved it. It's the transferring things over that stops me. And not being able to run my old programs like printmaster.

with mint. I Typically power up that machine once every 6 months

A nice alternative would be to install chrome os on it to turn it into chromebook.

https://www.howtogeek.com/217659/how-to-get-a-chrome-os-like-operating-system-on-any-pc/

I try to stay away away from large corporations as much as I can, which isn't easy.

They warned of incompatibilities and vulnerabilities, hackers. But in reality, things just didn't work anymore.

Linux excellent OS. I run Linux Mint. Took a little getting used to. Download, verify, burn OS to disk or USB. Support is out there, but not of the hand-holding variety. 10 things to do after install were very helpful sites.

I keep a bootable, burned DVD of Linux Mint Cinnamon, currently Mint 20, on hand. When the hard drive goes, it will boot and connect. I did have an upgrade problem when one of the updates didn't support my Wifi for some reason, but all other upgrades continue to work fine with the old kernel as the OS SW is called. I also run about a 10 year old pc.

So a bootabe DVD is a good way to try the OS and become familiar with the requirements, how to upgrade its parts and programs, how it feels. It is good not to be plagued with expiring software requiring $$$ renewals.

There is also Linux ISOfx10.6. It's supposed to work just like Win10. But I'm sure there is even less support with that.