Dustin,
I recommend checking out the Ubuntu-Florida LoCo
(https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FloridaTeam/). On that page you'll find
links to our mailing list, forum, irc channel, etc. Everyone is
pretty helpful, so even if you dont "join", you can get a lot of help
when/if you need it. So, my .02 on "must have's" is xchat-gnome.
Join us on #ubuntu-florida.

dan

> Dustin Walker wrote:
> > My desktop at home blue screened on me a couple of days ago and rather
> > than trying to fix it, I was thinking about installing Ubuntu...
> >
> > Any "must have's" from the repository that don't come with the standard
> > install? Anything to stay away from? How does the new version compare to
> > 7.04?
> >
> > I am brand new to Linux so any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Dustin Walker