Hi Nero,
The guys have all recommended good choices for a starter scope.
Does your close friend have a scope or binoculars already? It may change what you pick?
What type of viewing time can he do? Cooldown of some types of scopes come into play. I find with work and family my viewing is only 15mins at a time going in and out of the house. Dark site travel maybe 3-4 times a year.
If I was to recommend a scope I would look at a 8 inch dob for that price range but also factor in a collimation tool, especially if you need move it alot.
For me the criteria to pick a scope:
- Price
- Portability
- Weight
- Purpose
Also would recommend grabbing Stellarium (free download) to get a view of what objects can be seen.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/stellarium/
I recommend finding some local astronomers to assist to help with setup and provide guidance.
I know as a beginner it can be overwhelming and daunting. Feel free to ask any questions as you and your friend go along this rewarding journey that never ends
Also, apologies for the unformatted brain dump.