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.

EclipseMC no matter how they pay, are the worst and lowest payouts i have ever had. Avoid Eclipse MC, they are owned and operated by BFL, and use customers hardware to there gain.
Worst pool i have ever used. BTCguild is good, Heard good things about Eligius. But none have paid me as much as Slush. But Ive been in the game when slush was the only game.
Happy Mining everyone