*nix / Linux on laptop utilizing Windows applications

Is it possible

[Moncao]

I have an application currently running off a Slax CD but need to incorporate it onto the "old" laptop it runs on. My developer says I need to run Unix / Linux. My laptop has wireless and mobile data card (I can get broadband of sorts) via a PCMIA port. Can I strip Windows off (or keep it to the side), put *nix on and still run these applications (wireless and mobile data card with associated mobile company windows software)? How simple is this? I do not use the laptop for anything else now.

[wheel]

Yes, you want to do a dual boot. You're probably best with a clean install of windows if you can. After that, just drop in your favourite linux distribution CD and install it. Most of them these days have options during the install to set up a dual boot machine. i.e. in Mandriva linux during the install you'll get the partition the hard drive section. Resize the windows partition smaller, install mandriva on the freed up partition, and at the end of the install it'll ask you what OS you want to default boot to. Then every time you boot you get the option of which OS to start. Anyway, google dual boot and you'll find plenty of info. It's not hard.

Option 2 is VMware. I'm not using it myself, but it seems to be a viable option. Here's a thread:
[webmasterworld.com...]

[Moncao]

Thanks wheel

[joostvv]

You also can use wine, it's a little program that emulate windows in a linux machine. I use Ubuntu and use wine to run some hardware drivers and programs made for MS

[Moncao]

Thanks joostvv, appreciated