Web server development platform, Red Hat or Ubuntu
hs: try OpenBSD, it's simplerfast install: ~5 mins default + ~5 mins untar my-essentials.tgz + ~5 mins mercurial sync ... my box is production ready (sans user database)easy upgrade: untar the tgzs, kernel, sync /etc from newer OpenBSDno automatic update: it makes default install uniform, when $hit happens, just order another colo server with default install, ftp my-essential and resyncpackage & port & source: complete freedom ... for contrast, try to build (then patch) vim from source in ubuntu (you can't)now the 'bad' thing:
few forums: but most questions are answerable from OpenBSD's FAQ, afterboot and man pagesless new driver: good luck installing bluetooth (can't)older software: only firefox 2, no ff 3 in packages and snapshot port (ff3 site lists binaries for xp, osx, and .mar? source ... no idea how to compile .mar)i use OpenBSD as server (colo) and desktop ... then vnc my mac mini for ff3+firebug (i don't bother with linux emulation, dual boot, vmware etc)old simple vnc works across OS/arch ... i avoid fancy newer tech.  Can you run i386-ubuntu and powerpc-tiger in one desktop?i had enough of ubuntu, can't install from source, auto-update always break things (i finally quit after my ubuntu retarded to 800x640 and failed attempts at xorg.conf)oh wait, did i mention about the quality of the OS by OpenSSH maker?  Last time my colo lasted 4xx+ days without reboot