Noob Here: Need Help About Wordpress

Finally I am purchasing one year domain and hosting to host a wordpress blog. My hosting provider's website is showing 2 options at the same cost :
1) Linux server hosting and 2)Windows server hosting.

Which one should I purchase?

I also need a thorough tutorial regarding installation of a wordpress site. I am not going to make anything flashy, just a simple self hosted wordpress blog. Where can I find such a tutorial?

Google for the install tutorial... do you need help uploading or just running the install script? There is a readme file that comes with the wp download that gives the install instructions.

And I'd go for the linux install... they tend to be more reliable

People have written guides about setting up a new site and also setting up a wordpress site specifically. Use the search button.

Linux and always Linux for your WordPress sites. Just runs cleaner and it's a set it and forget it.

Agree, I prefer Linux. Installation is pretty simple and well written instructions, follow above links or use Search.
If you get Cpanel you 'll get fantastico with more or less few clicks auto install, or just create DB, edit config file and upload files.

Windows hosting is an overkill. It can do more, in a sense of supporting another type of websites for which you can use programming languages from Microsoft. Because of this added functionality the whole lot becomes unnecessary complicated for your needs.

However it is rare that both types of hosting cost the same, Linux is usually cheaper. Make sure you are not paying too much. The first year usually costs ~$5 per month at good hosts.