Xsever wrote@ rahmu
I have tried Ubuntu 8.04 and 9.04 just for the sake of getting familiar with Linux. You know like it does not hurt and I like to learn new things.
I liked the OS, but it did not feel faster than XP. I was running it on a machine that has a 2.4GHz Pentium 4, 2GB of ram and a small 30GB HD. XP just felt faster and more responsive than Ubuntu. I think the hard drive is not very fast, but shouldn't Linux still run faster than XP?
There's a somewhat unspoken rule in the field of computers and IT. Every time you're going to shift technologies (be it operating systems, programming languages, application softwares, ...) you're going to find the old one better and more adapted to your need for the first few months. It takes time to get used to new stuff.
I'm really surprised you say XP run faster, I believe you. But in my own experience, Linux has "revived" my laptop (Toshiba, 1.83 GHz Centrino Duo, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD). XP was slow (especially after 5-6 month of use), and it was almost a burden to turn it on. I installed Linux (I started with Ubuntu 7.10). Install went super easy, I was computer illiterate at the time (not that I'm a big guru now), the only "difficult" part would've been the partitioning except I didn't want to keep Windows.
Turns out Linux suited my needs a lot more. Easy, simple, everything simply worked. And when it didn't, you'd always find some random post on some forums (lebgeeks anyone ?) that'll solve your problem. And when you didn't you could always go in an IRC chatroom to seek help.
The thing I like the most about Linux is (at least for Ubuntu) the error reports. Back in my (dark) Windows days, I'd install a software but sometimes get obscure messages like "Error0x010293C: libaaekki.dll is not a Win32 valid application." When something goes wrong in Ubuntu you get a detailed explanation of what to do to solve it.
The best way to learn Linux, I think, is to install it, not dual-boot it, and spend 2-3 months using it. Stop using Windows entirely during this period of time. As you said so yourself, "it does not hurt and I like to learn new things".
Many would agree with me by saying that try it for a 2-3 month period, and you won't ever go back to Windows.
And we'll be here in case you need actual help in advanced administration tasks.