I did also install Ubuntu on one of my spare machines to test the OS, and definately makes it much easier.
But for some reason im not going to make it my primary due to the fact that im afraid of deleting or messing up some part of the OS where the whole system will just not work or boot any more.
It does everything I want it to do, but something about XP keeps pulling me back lol, but nothing bad, just probably because ive used windows for so long I decided to stick with it, but if im forced to use Vista, thats when I will use Ubuntu as a primary. :-)