Hey, if you like Ubuntu try LinuxMint. It is a derivative of Ubuntu but comes with more (non-free) stuff out of the box to make a more complete system.
http://www.linuxmint.com/
Take a look at http://w140.com/kurt/installing_xv_in_ubuntu.html and http://www.halibutdepot.org/xv/building_xv_on_ubuntu.html
You can have xv on Ubuntu.