Suggestion for new linux box

[Jason Landry]

I'm going to be setting up a development machine using linux (I'm currently doing work 
with Win2K).  My intent is to make sure I can do MySQL and PHP on a linux machine.

As a newbie to linux, what would be the best distribution of linux for me to use?  I 
don't mind paying a few bucks for the CD at the local Best Buy or CompUSA -- in fact, 
this would be preferable. 

Is there any particular version that MySQL is most stable with?

Thanks!