If I am not going to use any ecommerce related features and if I am willing to spend more for windows hosting if it is better than linux hosting when it comes to learning and web development, which type of hosting will you recommend and why?
Thank you..

Totally different ballparks. For learning, it depends on what you want to learn: Windows or Linux?

As for the programming, Windows is generally more geared towards ASP and Microsoft technology where Linux is usually better for the likes of PHP. Which languages will you be focussing on?

Personaly, I feel that MS will be wiped off the server market soon. Apache is ripping apart IIS. But that's all my opinion

Inasmuch, I would recomend Linux. It may have a steeper learning curve, but I believe that in the end, it's worth it. Microsoft software also, generally, is very buggy.

I wouldn't say that Microsoft Software are generally buggy. All programs in any platform are prone to bugs and not just Microsoft. There are some things you can do with the Windows environment which the Linux environment lacks of and vice versa. The Windows environment is easier to learn and not as cyptic as the Linux environment.

For simple web sites, either platform would do the trick. Windows with its ISAPI, DCOM, .NET and other technologies may be more apt in developing more complex web based applications. You see more high-end web tools based on the Windows or Solaris environment and fewer of those in Linux.

There are more choices when it comes to Web Front-end and Back-end development tools in Windows then there are in Linux. However most Windows tools are paid tools and that in itself may encourage the developers to further enhance the tools. Linux tools are mostly freeware or open source and as such may not have the same attention level as tools in Windows.

In the end, your learning environment should be the same as your development environment.

if you dont' use asp...linux will be the best :)