Yes you should use pools. There is a better chance of a steady payout.
BTCGuild, Nasty Mining Pool, Eligius are good ones to use.
I hope it helps and Happy Mining.
OP, if you want a steady payout use a PPS pool like EclipseMC. Take a look at how much bad luck the PPLNS pools are having the last 30 days in particular.

OK. I have to google those two terms. PPLNS and PPS, not sure what they even stand for.