UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I´m struggling to find a system I like and that´s not to overwhelming.. I´ve been using Ubuntu/Linux and it´s allright except that it´s pretty buggy and boots extremely slow. I´m in need of a system that offers good programming features, simple or no x server, fast to boot and STABLE. Don´t care about latest features, nor if it´s harder to learn than the GNU/Linux version.. I´ll gladly learn.. However what to learn? Can someone point me in some direction?

Regards
Richard

hm.. i.e. freebsd.

it has many docs (imho, it's important)
stable
install and boot very quickly

NetBSD. All the way. Im new and learning how to use it and it has been simple. Get NetBSD. www.netbsd.org