Best way to have a virtual image of linux for my laptop

[Qubit]

So I am getting a new laptop this all, razer stealth. I like using linux when I program in c and c++; I am also required to program c and c++ in linux for class. I was thinking would the best way to be able to have windows and linux was to buy an mobile external ssd/hhd and install linux on it and boot from it when i need to?

[Chris]

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2955460/operating-systems/dual-booting-linux-with-windows-what-you-need-to-know.html&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjttfeyz4POAhVIJB4KHVVfDxAQFggKMAI&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHU3PaPsksSYI2j5LYnKMHAZAaurA

[RDM]

If you put a Linux image on a USB (I use Ubuntu as my main OS) and when you start your laptop you can open the BIOS and select the Ubuntu OS and you can "try" the OS and have your laptop run right off the USB stick/external hard-drive. Then when you want to use Windows again just shut off the laptop and let it start up normally.

 

EDIT: I dont know if it will save C and C++ when you restart it when you are in "Try" mode though. If you had a PC you could just swap out the Hard-drives to whichever OS you want, idk about laptops though.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Wanted Swamp