There is a clear sign the desktop is dead for most. New laptops are 200 bucks on Amazon ready to use. And then we have Chromebooks for those that don't want to tinker.
For a lot of people, computers are a necessary evil. They have to own one to type, print and use the internet, but between malicious software activity and layout changes, a lot of people are getting frustrated.
What computer do you recommend these days? Tablets? Desktops? Laptops? What OS? Is Linux ready for the basic user? Can we really say that Windows continues to be? What about cost effective? Is there a cheap machine for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of time on it? For the 2015-2016 computer buyer, what do you think?

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic