Specs for a supercheap, supersmall httpd server

Sorry to cross post this, but I think that this message has to do with a lot of topics and I wasn't sure where to put it to get the best help. I'm looking for some advice on the following topic. First my thoughts, then the questions.

I'm building a web-based intranet (note: not internet) app. I want it to be able to offer it with hardware, but I want something small. I'm thinking that the best way to go will be to load Linux onto a biscuit PC along with Apache, PHP, MySQL, and Firefox (the server also needs to be one of the client machines, so it needs a graphical web browser). This means that I'll probably need some sort of window manager in order to display Firefox. I'll be functioning as a remote administrator, so I'll still need to be able to ssh-sftp into the box. An additional kink: I want to attach a touchscreen CRT monitor to this as an input device (in addition to a keyboard-mouse). Finally, I want this to attach to both a live internet connection (so I can get into the box remotely) and to a wireless intranet (it will be serving its pages over the wireless network).

The questions: -At first glance, how does this sound? -Which distro of Linux should I choose? It needs to be light, but still needs a window manager. -What specs should the PC have? The server will be serving (at the absolute, probably-will-never-be-achieved maximum) 5 requests-minute, so it isn't going to need to be super-powerful. I'm thinking of using some sort of external hard disk, so what do you recommend? CF? USB key? Microdrive? -Are my software choices appropriate? PHP and MySQL are in for sure, but I'm open to suggestions as far as light and quick server and (graphical) browser apps. I'm know some of what is out there, but I sure as heck am not familiar with everything! -Is it possible to get a touchscreen monitor to work with Linux? Is there some brand out there that has Linux drivers? -Finally, with a system like this will it be possibly to remotely flash the storage of the server? That way I can just have one test station and flash out to all the rest of the servers when I'm ready.

Thank you all so much for your help on this. I really am looking forward to all the varied responses that I may get to these questions. Feel free to submit whatever other opinion, suggestion, improvement, or criticism that you may have. Thanks!

-Jesse jjoneill at wisc dot edu