my question is not where can i learn it, rather i want to look into linux but i don't want to get rid of windows! i want to know if it is possible to hbave multiple os(es) on one computer. i cna't afford another computer so that is out opf the question. if it is how do i go about setting that up? thank you for your time in answering this question

Yes, this is possible. You have to partition your hard drive first which means that if you have only one partition currently, you must partition which will wipe out anything on your hard drive, then reinstall Windows on one partition, then install Linux on another. There is a ton of info on the web. See this.

I run 2 'dual boot' machines. At boot time a menu appears and you select which OS you want to run.
- win98/Fedora6 on a PIII w/256 mb ram someone was throwing out.
- win98/LinuxFromScratch on my 10 year old PII laptop with 128 mb ram.
I only need windows for work stuff , in particular Quicken.
OpenOffice handle most MS-Office stuff very nicely in Linux these days.
While Fedora can be downloaded, I don't have broadband.
So I just bought my Fedora disk set from Edmonds Online for $11.
Install guides you through dual boot setup etc.

There is Linux-like environment available that runs on Windows, called cygwin. This could possibly be a 'starter' to learn basic command-line usage if you feel apprehensive about partitioning, or don't have a spare harddrive.

__________________
Use the force...read the source!!
WYCIWYG -- what you code is what you get!

You may want to look into some of the Linux LiveCDs. They run the Linux environment entirely from disc and memory; nothing is written to your hard drive. This lets you test drive Linux and learn how to use it without having to make space on your hard drive or anything. Plus, you don't have to worry about breaking anything because it's all in RAM.

Take a look at www.distrowatch.com to see what LiveCDs are available.

__________________
Start Programming with Python-A beginner's guide to programming and the Python language.
-------------
Common Sense v2.0-Striving to make the world a little bit smarter.

You may also use virtual machines such as vmware. Virtual machines allow you to run another operating system on any platform(os) you may be using as a primary os. To read more on how vmware or any virtual machine, just check from the web.
In case you may want to use vmware,it is quite easy to use and hence you can install your linux still using your windows, it will run linux as any other software since vmware will be your basic platform for linux.