HyperSpace is small OS that lets you boot up a computer very quickly for basic tasks like web browsing and email. It doesn’t replace windows, but provides a lightweight environment that boots in seconds with very low battery consumption. It looks like a great way to check your email when you only have 5 minutes and don’t want to spend half of that time just getting your computer OS up and running. If you find yourself constantly running out of battery or waiting for your laptop to boot, this might be worth looking into.
This feature is now standard on some of the newer motherboards.
I just bought an Asus P5Q Pro which comes with Express Gate. An onboard Linux version that enables you to quickly access the internet, mail etc without booting into Windows.
To run a light weight Linux and Windows side by side, you can use VMWare, Virtual PC or some other virtual programme.