You can also consider getting VMWare or Microsoft virtual server (I believe they announced today it is a freebie too now), where you can run a virtual computer on your existing operating system.
It would create its own vrtual harddrive (one large file), and run the guest OS in a window (optionally full screen). The nice thing is that you can copy things back and forth between your real OS and the guest OS, and are able to do things like compile your blitzmax exe's.
Note that full screen openGL may not be supported, so you can only run the bmax apps in windowed mode. It will also be a bit slower than running in a 'real' linux installation where it has full control over your hardware... But pretty nice, especially for beginners or those who can't afford to re-partition their drive to install a second operating system.
It would create its own vrtual harddrive (one large file), and run the guest OS in a window (optionally full screen). The nice thing is that you can copy things back and forth between your real OS and the guest OS, and are able to do things like compile your blitzmax exe's.
Note that full screen openGL may not be supported, so you can only run the bmax apps in windowed mode. It will also be a bit slower than running in a 'real' linux installation where it has full control over your hardware... But pretty nice, especially for beginners or those who can't afford to re-partition their drive to install a second operating system.