Have you dual booted Ubuntu 10.04.1 yet?

It can't make your computer slower, because it's just a partition on your hard drive. I use Ubuntu as my primary operating system on my laptop (it came with Vista), and it is so much better than Vista, because it runs lighter, and it has more features that I want to use. I am a Mac user, but I think that Ubuntu is a great operating system. I currently have Ubuntu installed on a flash drive, and I use it to "impress" my friends. They like the desktop effects that comes with Ubuntu (as long as the hardware is supported).

I have not dual booted with 10.04.1, because I have erase Windows on all but one computer, and that compuer I'm keeping Windows on it because I need it for most of developing. If I were you, I would completely get rid of Windows, because of the biggest factor... viruses.

I've been dual booting between Windows7 and Linux Mint for a while now and haven't regretted it. I use Mint as my primary OS at this point. I don't plan on getting rid of Windows as I still boot into it for some games, but really that's about it.

If you ask me, I'd keep both, at least for now. As has been said it can't hurt and you never know when you may need to boot into Windows for one reason or another. Look at it this way, if you get used to Linux now, you'll never have to pay those exorbitant Micro$oft costs again; as when it comes time to leave Windows 7, you can upgrade your OS for free!

Yes you should be fine and it will slow nothing. You can also take a look at WINE for Ubuntu which will let your run Windows apps on Ubuntu.

I dual boot XP & Ubuntu on this computer, It boots fast as ever save the time allowed for the bozo behind the keyboard to choose the OS before GRUB makes the choice.

But you must know by now, that ' fast ' is a relative term.

It won't do any harm and it will even do some good. If, for any reason, Windows stops booting (it's happened to a few people I know), you can still access your files through the Ubuntu partition.

You're also getting some valuable experience with different types of user environments and different software ecosystems. You never know when that can come in handy.