Dual-Boot Question

[dbodoh]

Hello, Im currently using Windows XP sp3. I would like to switch to Ubuntu exclusively, but i enjoy playing games to much. So i have a few questions.

1. For dual booting, i have read the guides on how XP/Ubuntu installation is suppose to be, and i was wonder on how do u switch between the 2 operating systems.

2. The windows emulators(VMplayer), do u get a performance loss, and if so how much. I play WoW, which performance isnt that big of a deal, but i also play FPS's where performance is key.

3. I have a laptop also, with Windows MCE sp2, would that have any issues with dual booting Ubuntu?

4. I used Linux(Fedora Core 2), and was wondering...is it still that difficult to install a program...?

[Pumalite]

1.-Grub gives you a menu where you can choose.
http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p15.htm

[dbodoh]

That comes right with the SuperGrub install?

[Pumalite]

That comes with Ubuntu. The best boot loader around.

[dbodoh]

Will partition magic allow me to make a partition? or do i have to pay for the full version? Whats a decent partition for linux counting install/updates, other stuff. Any info on is it any easier to install?

[Pumalite]

Are you using XP or Vista?

[dbodoh]

XP sp2 for desktop, and Media Center Edition sp2, for laptop

[Pumalite]

Gparted Live CD is your best bet:
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php
Burn to disk and boot from it. Right click on XP and choose 'resize'. A good scheme is:
10 GB for '/'
1 GB for /swap (/swap=RAM in laptops)
The rest for /home

[dbodoh]

what do u have to do to install programs and such...i remember having to type in multiple commands to install a simple program.. is it still this complicated, or is it now one of the few nice features windows has?

[Pumalite]

You can do it through a Package Manager (Synaptic) or the Terminal:
http://monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/