I've just found a pretty good video of how to install Ubuntu inside Windows and run it as an application. You can also burn a Ubuntu Live CD, which will allow you to try Ubuntu from the CD drive, before you decide if you want to install it in a dual boot configuration with Windows.
The installation video is nice, but the Ubuntu Live CD prompts you logically throughout the install, and is very easy to follow, so you should have no problems installing it. Full installation instructions are available in the Ubuntu Community Documentation project.
The video linked above tells how to install Ubuntu inside of, or beside Windows in a dual boot configuration. To get Ubuntu go to Ubuntu.com where you can download the .iso file for the Ubuntu Live CD, and burn it to CD.
You may also request that a Ubuntu Live CD be sent to you at no cost, not even shipping cost, if you have no way to burn the .iso to CD. Do not download Ubuntu from the site in the video linked above, as it is an old version he is linking to.
Once you have the Ubuntu Live CD, you can boot from it, and run Ubuntu from the CD Rom drive with no changes to your system to see if it works with all of your hardware. Once you decide to install Ubuntu, simply select the "Install" option from the first menu after booting from the Ubuntu Live CD.
Allow Ubuntu to have around 30 to 50 GB of room if you have that much to spare. Ubuntu will only need around 6 GB or so at first before adding any extra software, or data files to it. Allow another 80-100 GB on another partition if you decide to mirror the software repositories so you have all of the software available to install from right on your own drives. (not necessary but convenient.)
To adjust how much space Ubuntu takes, select the "Guided Partitioning" option when it comes up during the installation. You will be able to grab the separation bar between your Windows partition, and the proposed partition size for Ubuntu, and slide it one way, or the other to adjust the amount of space you wish to give to Ubuntu.
If you do not adjust the slider, Ubuntu will hog most of the drive space to itself, so be forewarned to make sure to adjust that slider in Guided Partitioning!
The Ubuntu Live CD installation takes care of setting up a GRUB boot menu for you so you may boot into Ubuntu, or Windows at your discretion after installation is complete. The installation process is much faster than a Windows installation, and you will be done in about 20 minutes.
For an idea of why I like Ubuntu so much have a look at the following video I made. There is also the possibility of running a movie on full screen view while rotating the cube as you will see in my recording of my own desktop. Be sure to watch it in full screen mode. Don't forget to read the side notes for my video there.Like this page? Link to it from your own website; just copy/paste this HTML:
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