My win2k laptop is getting slow... reformat dualboot Q

If i'm going to reformat my

p4 2.0
512 pc2100 Ram
40gb
Sager

which is getting slow on win2k (been about a 15 months since format)... after doing a backup, data transfer, inventory...

if i'm to dual boot using linux / win2k, which should i install first, what should i use to switch between the two, etc?

newb at linux, but should learn to fool around with it at some point...prly redhat...

it would not be for any other reason than to get a feel for linux, I have no needs that extend beyond win2k (or winxp on other boxes),

it would just be for experimenting.

I'm a pretty big *nix newb, too, but I've installed Redhat and Mandrake before...in both cases I found it easy to install them with Windows already there as they will recognize it and handle the bootloader for you. I forget how Mandrake does it, but Redhat gives you the option of LILO and something else.

I don't think WIndows gives you the option of booting to linux after an install, but I'm not 100% sure on that