I have Ubuntu, so I use Gaim, but it’s basically the same as Kopete. I can chat with my buddies in #rspwtalk on IRC and with my girlfriend on AOL at the same time...although usually when my girl logs on, I usually close the IRC chat.
I don’t do chat very often anymore (since my girlfriend and I got married 10 years ago) but there are many more advantages to Ubuntu besides the fact that it’s just plain cool.