Dual boot

[Ian]

I am new to Linux, pretty much starting to get into it. I am now running windows xp. I would like 
to know how I could run both operating systems on my xp machine. I have a Pentium 4 at 1.7 ghz, 512 
ram, and an 80 gig hard drive. I am sure that I have ample space.
I know that mandrake had software for millennium and below called Linux for windows so that a 
person could learn Linux without having to partition the disk. I have to keep win xp because my 
wife uses it,  but I don't want to have to get another computer until I am comfortable with Linux.
Please give me any suggestions on what to do.

IJ COLLINS