Which client to recommend to beginners?

[phelix]

Needs to be:
* ready relatively fast
* private keys need to be private
* password or otherwise protected
edit:
* very simple to use
* free
* ?

I see:
* Electrum client
* blockchain.info wallet
* more?

I very much like multibit but it's password feature is still in beta.

Which one would you recommend and why?

[grantbdev]

Electrum because it's open source and been really fast for me. Because it isn't really a web client like a blockchain.info or something else wallet in my mind it's much more secure. Also, the "brain wallet" concept of electrum is super neat.

[hazek]

Depends.. for a regular user I point them towards blockchain.info with a the appropriate disclaimers, but if it's a business owner I point them towards Qt + armory, maybe Electrum or WalletBit again with the appropriate disclaimers.

[bitcats]

Beginners could use the portable electrum client: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=131762.msg1411225#msg1411225

[DeathAndTaxes]

For a zero day user I would say blockchain.info.  Bitcoin can be overwhelming as it is.  Blockchain.info plus something like BitInstant can allow a complete (as in "what is bitcoin) noob get up and running quickly.   Now the standard disclaimers apply, "trust nobody", use 2FA, make a backup of your blockchain.info wallet, and keep the volume low.  Still for someone looking to buy say 20 BTC tomorrow I don't see a reason to get more complicated.  20,000 BTC?  Ok well there is no fast and easy for that.

[justusranvier]

Without a doubt blockchain.info is the most user-friendly client for new users.

I no longer tip in dollars at restaurants any more. I have the server set up a blockchain.info wallet on their phone and send them their tip that way. It's incredibly easy for them to get started, so I can spend more time showing them places to spend, sell, gamble with, or get more bitcoins.

[phelix]

Electrum because it's open source and been really fast for me. Because it isn't really a web client like a blockchain.info or something else wallet in my mind it's much more secure. Also, the "brain wallet" concept of electrum is super neat.

I would put Electrum and blockchain.info into the same security category as with both your private keys should be private. I like the seed thing with electrum, too.

Depends.. for a regular user I point them towards blockchain.info with a the appropriate disclaimers, but if it's a business owner I point them towards Qt + armory, maybe Electrum or WalletBit again with the appropriate disclaimers.

What disclaimers would you give for blockchain.info?
I am looking for a simple to use solution (edited the op).

Does WalletBit know your private keys?

Download the zip of https://github.com/brainwallet/brainwallet.github.com
Put it on an encrypted drive.

Hmm, too complicated for a noob I'd say (edited op)

Beginners could use the portable electrum client: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=131762.msg1411225#msg1411225

Not sure if an advantage versus the regular installer for the average user... ?

For a zero day user I would say blockchain.info.  Bitcoin can be overwhelming as it is.  Blockchain.info plus something like BitInstant can allow a complete (as in "what is bitcoin) noob get up and running quickly.   Now the standard disclaimers apply, "trust nobody", use 2FA, make a backup of your blockchain.info wallet, and keep the volume low.  Still for someone looking to buy say 20 BTC tomorrow I don't see a reason to get more complicated.  20,000 BTC?  Ok well there is no fast and easy for that.

these are good tips for sure. 2FA makes things more complicated, though, and also gives away your identity (as far as I see).
> keep the volume low
that does not sound too good 

Without a doubt blockchain.info is the most user-friendly client for new users.

I no longer tip in dollars at restaurants any more. I have the server set up a blockchain.info wallet on their phone and send them their tip that way. It's incredibly easy for them to get started, so I can spend more time showing them places to spend, sell, gamble with, or get more bitcoins.

Strong arguments towards blockchain.info. Best for starters I guess but leaves me a little worried about centralization (Electrum, too btw).

[kangasbros]

Electrum because it's open source and been really fast for me. Because it isn't really a web client like a blockchain.info or something else wallet in my mind it's much more secure. Also, the "brain wallet" concept of electrum is super neat.

I would put Electrum and blockchain.info into the same security category as with both your private keys should be private. I like the seed thing with electrum, too.

Hmm how would you classify electrum the same way as blockchain.info? With electrum, you have extra layer of multiple servers on top of the bitcoin network - if couple of servers go down, you can use another one. With blockchain.info, you just have one server. With electrum the private keys are stored on your hardware (private seed, but the same thing). With blockchain.info your private keys are encrypted in the cloud.

[justusranvier]

Best for starters I guess but leaves me a little worried about centralization (Electrum, too btw).

It's a question of the right tool for the job. I'm probably always going to have a blockchain.info wallet with a small balance for ease of spending. You can't beat the convenience of having your keys and addressbook accessible from both a web browser or your phone. On the other hand I put long term savings in cold storage in an offline Armory wallet.

For a new user the convenience of a web wallet will keep them from getting frustrated so that they stick around long enough to learn about the other clients.

[Jutarul]

I very much like multibit but it's password feature is still in beta.

Which one would you recommend and why?

if password is the only reason not to use multibit, try whole-disk or user-folder encryption techniques. If you want encrypted backups, use virtual disk containers with encryption build-in.

[flatfly]

Strong arguments towards blockchain.info. Best for starters I guess but leaves me a little worried about centralization (Electrum, too btw).

As of today, Electrum has between 6 and 8 independent and pretty stable servers on several continents, and anyone can setup a new one (Bkkcoins made a great detailed tutorial for that recently), so it is a LOT less centralized than blockchain.info, which is currently was apparently down for everyone, by the way... This is unlikely to happen with Electrum.

[hazek]

Depends.. for a regular user I point them towards blockchain.info with a the appropriate disclaimers, but if it's a business owner I point them towards Qt + armory, maybe Electrum or WalletBit again with the appropriate disclaimers.

What disclaimers would you give for blockchain.info?

Essentially that they are trusting a third party not to screw them, that even though with blockchain.info the chances of that are extremely low it still could happen.

[phelix]

Electrum because it's open source and been really fast for me. Because it isn't really a web client like a blockchain.info or something else wallet in my mind it's much more secure. Also, the "brain wallet" concept of electrum is super neat.

I would put Electrum and blockchain.info into the same security category as with both your private keys should be private. I like the seed thing with electrum, too.

Hmm how would you classify electrum the same way as blockchain.info? With electrum, you have extra layer of multiple servers on top of the bitcoin network - if couple of servers go down, you can use another one. With blockchain.info, you just have one server. With electrum the private keys are stored on your hardware (private seed, but the same thing). With blockchain.info your private keys are encrypted in the cloud.

how many servers is there, seven? ddos one powerful and very well maintained server or seven "normal" servers, is there a big difference?

> With blockchain.info your private keys are encrypted in the cloud.
whereas with electrum I have them stored on my disk and could retrieve my coins event if the electrum servers were down? This certainly is an advantage.

Best for starters I guess but leaves me a little worried about centralization (Electrum, too btw).

It's a question of the right tool for the job. I'm probably always going to have a blockchain.info wallet with a small balance for ease of spending. You can't beat the convenience of having your keys and addressbook accessible from both a web browser or your phone. On the other hand I put long term savings in cold storage in an offline Armory wallet.

For a new user the convenience of a web wallet will keep them from getting frustrated so that they stick around long enough to learn about the other clients.

yeah, smartphone access is yet another aspect (electrum has smartphone versions, too)

I think quite a lot of people start by investing 500-1000$, for them it is important to have at least a medium level of security.

I very much like multibit but it's password feature is still in beta.

Which one would you recommend and why?

if password is the only reason not to use multibit, try whole-disk or user-folder encryption techniques. If you want encrypted backups, use virtual disk containers with encryption build-in.

much too complicated for a beginner imho

Depends.. for a regular user I point them towards blockchain.info with a the appropriate disclaimers, but if it's a business owner I point them towards Qt + armory, maybe Electrum or WalletBit again with the appropriate disclaimers.

What disclaimers would you give for blockchain.info?

Essentially that they are trusting a third party not to screw them, that even though with blockchain.info the chances of that are extremely low it still could happen.

as far as I understand they allow a mode where they do not know your unencrypted prik




this is how I see things currently (a simple view):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai7XOM8pqnGldGFsVkFmM3FjaXl2QXFHc1BBTTBRVXc
see comments. feel free to comment or move things around (I may undo your changes)

[westkybitcoins]

I'd start them off with BitcoinSpinner, available for Android smartphones (and I *think* iPhones.) It's mobile, and the drop-dead most simple client available. One address for everything, tiny fee charged everytime (gets them used to the idea... anyone selling bitcoin with the idea that there are "no fees" needs to be slapped.) They control their private key, and if the person decides to learn enough about it, they could create multiple wallets with it... but that's NOT necessary.

Once they've gotten used to the basics of sending and receiving bitcoins, and maybe checking the blockchain on occasion, then I'd urge them to also get a wallet with blockchain.info, and maybe keep their funds distributed to some degree between the both of them. I'd start them out with creating the wallet online, then downloading the smartphone app and linking it to their online wallet. This way, they can use the app for simple sending, and checking their balances and address book, but can also go online to do things like specify specific coins to send, import and manage keys, and do a few other more detailed tasks.

I'd work them up to a desktop client after that. Depending on how tech-savvy they are, I'd go for the Satoshi (main) client, or if they're not that tech-savvy, one of the alternatives (can't comment on which, I don't use any of the alternatives.)

[Jutarul]

I very much like multibit but it's password feature is still in beta.

Which one would you recommend and why?

if password is the only reason not to use multibit, try whole-disk or user-folder encryption techniques. If you want encrypted backups, use virtual disk containers with encryption build-in.

much too complicated for a beginner imho

If it has to work with stupid:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822161077

[phelix]

I very much like multibit but it's password feature is still in beta.

Which one would you recommend and why?

if password is the only reason not to use multibit, try whole-disk or user-folder encryption techniques. If you want encrypted backups, use virtual disk containers with encryption build-in.

much too complicated for a beginner imho

If it has to work with stupid:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822161077

hehe nice. but: >$149.99
Needs to be free (edited op)