is it good idea to make separate partiton for windows

i am about to install new hard drive in my macbook and am wondering if it is a good idea to make two partitions- one for mac os and one for windows. Actually, any advice would be appreciated. I don't know windows really but have to learn some technical programs that run only with windows-so, here I go.
thanks for any help or advice.

If your running Leopard, use Bootcamp to partition your hard drive, then install Windows on the new partition. Bootcamp gives you full instructions on how to do this.

If you plan on installing Windows via Boot Camp, then partitioning the drive is a requirement. If you plan on running it via Parallels or VMWare, then you don't really need a separate partition.