Good on you guys for getting into Linux. I’m running Vista on my phenom quad and it’s... okay, I guess. No crashes or anything. It’s been solid, but I’m not a heavy user except for flight sim.
But to compare, my Vista backups took 3 DVDs, and my laptop that I use for Linux, well, I don’t have a linux that is bigger than a single CD. I reloaded the OS four times in the last two days on the Lappy, and it really doesn’t take long. I find Linux FAR easier to do some things, like setting up the printer and wireless. Boots much faster too, although the P4m 2gig processor is competing with my quad-core machine.
I tried Dream Linux, Mandriva, PCLinuxOS the new Beta, Tiny Me, and finally put PCLinuxOS 2007 back on the laptop. Okay, that’s five. Ubuntu and I don’t get along. It crashes some stuff, and I get annoyed very quickly. I quit trying the Ubuntu releases.
The one I have been running is a Gentoo based...Sabayon...pretty slick...but I know nothing about Portage....
You should try Linux Mint. To me it's Ubuntu done right.