Gigabit Ethernet networking

[Chronictank]

Ok, for my next project i want to try get a gigabit network working in my home.
I currently have a 10/100 setup with 3 pc's and a laptop all connected through a US Robotics ADSL Router.

Ideally i would not want to add a ADSL modem into the picture but all gigabit switches i have seen do not encorporate a ADSL modem into them so i am assuming i will need to get a ethernet modem to put into the Uplink port.

I have a couple of questions tho,
1) What is the easiest to use Gigabit switch currently available
2) I currently have UTP 4 pair Cat 5e patch cables running around my house, would i need to change/replace these?
3) Is there anything additional i should know before i begin, or is it as simple as creating a 10/100 network

Thanks in advance

 

[Chronictank]

cheers for all the advice was very helpful ,
i often transfer images around my network on 100mb its painfully slow

 

[Chronictank]

i dont use DHCP for my perma rigs, i reserved 1 to 20 for static addresses and threw the rest into the dhcp pool for the rest