I am interested in implementing a more robust development platform for implementing Drupal sites. I would like to be able to develop the site locally, and transfer it to the production site (and have successfully done so with an XAMPP server under Windows Vista.

I currently have the following O/S and installed platforms:

• Windows Vista
  1. XAMPP
  2. VMWare Server
• Ubuntu 8.04 desktop
  1. XAMPP
  2. Subversion

For Windows Vista and Ubuntu users, what is your development platform, and how to you develop Drupal sites? 

• How do you maintain a local source when the site is live (and new content is being added)?
• What do you do for version control?
• What do you do for photo and illustration editing?
• What tools do you use to develop, test, transfer your site and database?
• What do you use for template sites?
• Do you have any other recommendations?