[mixu]

My tip would be to get VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation, and run your choice of Linux on it in fullscreen. There are two things that are annoying when learning Linux:

1) dealing with hardware issues

2) dealing with updates that break stuff

Virtualization solves both of those, at the cost of a little performance. The nice thing about VM's is that the virtual hardware is always the same and generally well tested (no hardware issues). And if you break stuff, you can roll back changes (VM snapshots). Both VirtualBox and VMWare have full screen modes and support for dual monitors out of the box.

Also, make sure you get a server as well and learn to administer it it from the command line. It's a great way to keep learning more.

[pasbesoin]

If you go with VirtualBox, take the time to read its download-able manual. It's well-written and it can help you make some configuration choices, e.g. networking setup so that VB-resident services are visible to the VB host (your windows machine) but not to the world.

I'll also mention that the Official Ubuntu Server book -- to the extent I've looked at it -- is well written, although you'll have to look further for the "nitty gritty" on particular topics. Note, this is the Server version of the "Official" line. My vague recollection is that I was somewhat less impressed with the desktop "Official" entry.

http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/operating-systems-and-s...

[schwede]

If you were going to learn Linux the hard way, wouldn't you want to jump right in with a dual boot?

[mixu]

A VM is for most purposes identical to a dual boot setup, except for the part where you have hardware incompatibility issues and/or break your system. If you want, you can ignore the option of going back to a snapshot and stay in hardcore mode figuring out things, but you also get the option of reverting and learning from the experience. Less frustration = more fun = more motivation = more learning.