Just a few extra notes on ubuntu (mainly for my reference if I need to set it up again).
Packages I install
nvidia-settings (to configure dual screens on my PC)
simple-ccsm (configure graphical effects)
yakuake (i love quake style terminals)
amarok (best music player ever)
eclipse (manually-the one in the repos is only 3.2 :()
apache2
mysql-server-5
php5
phpmyadmin
vncview
Also Java 1.5 and Flash (get get these by going to a java/flash site)
Remember to add yakuake to your Session startup (System>Preferences>Sessions)