What's the difference between linux and windows 2003 hosting?

I thought I'd try building my own website but don't really have a clue what I am doing. I registered a domain name last night (a .co.uk one) and the same site offers web hosting. As it's just a hobby at the moment I don't want to pay out too much expense so there's two £3.99 per month options. One with linux and one with windows 2003. What's the difference?

What's the difference between linux and windows 2003 hosting?
It depends on what you want from your web site. The Linux server will be more secure for your site. If you want to connect to a database you will need to learn a bit about MySQL (probably) and writing PHP web pages. The Windows server will be more prone to worms and malicious attack and you will need to learn MS SQL server and writing ASP web pages if you want to connect that to a database.


I prefer the Linux solution but others will tell you differently...
Reply:There are many differences. Linux is best. 2003 server is microsoft base. and virus is specially designed for microsoft attacked on microsoft....linux is much relible..........
Reply:If you thinks about:


Visitor satisfaction, reliability, uptime, security, then use Linux hosting.





        http://www-thehostingchart.com/?igojo=1%26amp;...





 
Reply:For linux hosting , you might not have services like asp.net


available and hence it is cheap
Reply:In Linux, when typing the URL, case does matter, Linux sees "URL" different from "Url", Windows does not. Linux is less prone to viruses due to the nature of the operating system, since both are on the public internet, they can both be hacked, it is up the hosting company to secure that. Aside from that not much else that really matters except if you build the website in Publisher, you will have problems running it on a Linux server (my first website mistake, none of the pages loaded correctly).