[ubuntu] Windows 8 and ubuntu on separate harddrives

Hello ubuntu forums,

I thinking about building a new desktop. Conventional wisdom suggests that put both operating systems on one drive,
and use the other drive for storage. My family isn't computer savvy and the grub screen would confuse them. What I was
thinking about was this:Install Windows 8 and Ubuntu on separate drives. Create a usb installion of ubuntu. Use the usb to boot
into the second drive when needed. Well this work?

I have several usb installions of linux, but I've found that they slow down and pause over time. That is why I want a dedicated ubuntu
harddrive.

Thank you in advance.