Nothing like a good .nix OS. The new Linux distributions are so easy to install. Keeping up on updates and dependencies of libraries can be a bit of work though.
Unless you opt for a mature time tested .nix OS like Berkely Unix.
There is an OS out there built on it that even negates all of the security issues associated with the MSFT products.
One hardware manufacturer even ships their boxes with it installed and configured to run out of the box. Comes with just about all the software you'd need to do anything. Even updates the OS regularly so you don't need to worry about packge depencies.
Check it out.
Scott