you can use knoppix to try out linux , it runs off a disk
www.linuxiso.org ,and i think suse has a version that runs off a disk too. " I've run dual boot before, it sux hard-core... the only hassle free way to dual boot is to have 2 separate HDs and a custom 80 pin IDE switcher mounted on the front of your computer..." you can use a floppy boot disk for linux , then you don't need the switcher and you don't have to worry about windows 's nasty habit of messing up your mbr