Tell me about Ubuntu/Linux

The lovely community of Dreamviews Chat have gotten me past the procrastination of trying Linux and I've decided to install Ubuntu for starters. I'll tell you what I mainly use my computer for and I what I ask of everyone is some tips/advice on software and stuff. It would be greatly appreciated!:)

Activities I use Windows XP for:

1. -Torrent downloads
2. -iTunes (For putting music and videos on my iPod Touch)
3. -Recording Guitar tracks/Creating music
4. -Banking
5. -Checking Email
6. -IRC
7. -Watching Movies/TV shows/YouTube/Netflix what have you
8. -Scheduling (Birthdays, major events, etc...)
9. -Minimal gaming (stuff like Halo, Age of Empires, Flash games, pretty much any game that this crappy computer can handle)
10. -Windows Live Messenger

That's about it, I'll add to the list if I think of anything else, but those are the main things.

1. Transmission is great. Should have come installed with Ubuntu :)
2. Rhythmbox is basically iTunes :D
3. Audacity works on Ubuntu as well.
4. Isn't banking online? So I'd assume Firefox.
5. Evolution Email Client :D
6. XChat works great if you want a GUI. Irssi if you're not too afraid of the command line.
7. All that's online I believe, so your browser would work well for this. Movies though, Totem Media Player should do it...I never have gotten it to work, but I'm lazy.
8. Mozilla Sunbird
9. Hmmm...I don't know about the gaming. You could try a virtual machine or wine for that
10. I believe Pidgin can do that.

11. Its free!

I would advise against desktop Linux. You will end up with too many frustrations for relatively little gain. If you are installing on a laptop, you should be fine though.

Linux sucks.

You are both terrible people. Actually Marvo is sorta right. ... sorta. if your desktop is for gaming, stay away. Like staying away from a stripper with HIV.