Virtualization recommendation

[David Suna]

I just bought a new Gateway laptop that comes with Windows Vista (and a 
free upgrade to Windows 7).  I want to be able to run both Linux (Ubuntu 
is my preferred distribution) and Windows (Vista for now, Windows 7 in 
the future) using virtualization.  I have not gotten into virtualization 
until now so I wanted recommendations about how to go about doing this.  
>From what I have read so far I have the following options:

1. Host on Windows using VMWare (either VMware Player or Workstation)

2. Host on Windows using Microsoft Virtual PC

3. Host on Linux using VMWare, Xen etc but then I have to deal with 
installing Windows since the laptop comes with it but does not have 
separate installation disks


Recommendations for or against any of the above or information about 
other options that I left out would be appreciated.


Thanks,

-- 
David Suna
david at davidsconsultants.com