People are often confused over Windows and Linux hosting.

Most of the hosters are unclear on those two types of hosting.

They think that if they will host on linux Server than their visitors using windows operating system will not be able to see their site. But the truth is that your site is platform independant, means visitors on any operating system can surf your site very smoothly be it windows xp or windows 98 or windows 95 or windows vista or linux or mac or bsd or any other OS.

This applies for both windows as well as linux hosting.

Now the questions comes which hosting platform shall i choose ?

The answer for this is :

1 - Requirements - It all depends on your requirements. Most of the windows hosting provider will provide you support for scripting langauage like ASP and database like MsSql whereas most of the linux hosting providers will provide you support for scripting language like PHP and database like MySql.
So if you want to use ASP than choose windows server whereas if you want to use PHP than use linux server. If you don't want to use any scripting language than you may use any of the hosting platform. Our preference is always linux hosting due to its extensive features and worldwide popularity.

You can use html, dhtml, javascript, flash, real audio, video, cgi, pop mail ids, ftp, frontpage etc on both servers.

2 -  Budget - Linux hosting is always cheaper as compared to windows hosting coz  most of the sofwtares used on linux servers are open source that is free whereas on windows server most of the softwares are paid and need to be licensed by Microsoft.