"That's right, you can. Try out that Linux power and coolness for yourself using these five easy steps. Don't worry, you'll never have to leave the comfort of Windows to do any of them--not even to a command line. Let's get started!
"1. Download Virtual PC 2007 - Virtual PC 2007 allows you to install various operating systems as virtual machines and run them simultaneously with Windows. No rebooting required. Download this free application from Microsoft, install it and then proceed to Step 2.
"2. Download Ubuntu 9.10 - Everyone agrees that Ubuntu Linux is the great Windows contender, especially for those who are new to Linux. Go to the Ubuntu Downloads page to download your free copy. The download is large (~600MB) so it might take a while, so be patient."