Partition Advice Please

[Namsnik]

I have a 500GB Sata drive that I intend using with NTFS for:
1.Operating System - Vista Home Premium
2. Software
3. A shared folder used by all the PCs/Laptops on my home network
4. Backup copies / Images of other PCs
Would there be any benefit to operating multiple partitions?

 

[Namsnik]

Thanks. Single partition it is.