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I recommend you to install it local and test it thoroughly.
There's one important point to have into account, though: There are two 'branches' of Drupal nowadays: Drupal 5.x and Drupal 4.7.x.
Drupal 5.x is better, faster and slimmer (the default theme is really good). However it has much less extensions (modules). The 4.7 branch is older but has more modules and it, in this sense, much more flexible today... but not tomorrow.
Not that they are terribly different but I think I would take this into account.
Go to Drupal.org site and search 'Drupal showcase'. You'll see hundred of different sites.
I am very satisfied with it (4.7)