Windows Programs in Linux
 

I have put a new 11.04 Ubuntu install on my PC to run. What is the easiest way for me to play a couple WindowsXP games that I simply can't be without? Use Wine? Use VirtualBox? Both look extremely difficult to use.. Please help..

First check in the Wine application database if they are successfully tested and in that case you can try them out. I would consider virtualbox as a second chance, unless you need windows XP for other uses.

Try looking at the forums on Gaming on Linux.
jdk

You can always install Play onLinux

sudo apt0get install playonlinux

The supported software on the Play on Linux site lists working applications:

http://www.playonlinux.com/en/

Wine will let you play Microsoft games, but older games often require an older version of Wine. Wine keeps changing with changes often causing incompatibility between parts of the programme. What Wine developers call "regressions." If your games are more than two or three years old, they may not work with the latest version of Wine. Older versions are available in the Wine archive.

You might also have a problem, because you are using Ubuntu. There are many Ubuntu fans, but to be honest, Ubuntu is not a very good system. I tried to play a game on Ubuntu using Wine, but the game was unplayable: slow, skipping, bad sound. The same game and same version of Wine on Debian worked almost perfectly.