Idea #5794: The ability to clone Ubuntu "As-is"

I am fairly new to Ubuntu, so if this idea is already possible (or if it's been suggested on Brainstorm already) I appologize and would appreciate knowing how to do this.

I would like to (easily and within a GUI) be able to make an Ubuntu install disc that would install Ubuntu the same way I had it when I made the disc. So it would be kind of like doing a backup (like Norton Ghost, but good). I wouldn't expect personal files like audio, docs, vids or pics to be on the disc, just the programs and OS config.

It would be an easy way to reinstall after a hard disc failure.

You could just set up Ubuntu once the way you want it with all of the programs you want and none of the ones you don't already installed like Compiz or Beryl, KDE or Gnome, browser, etc. Then you could make the disc and if you were setting up a lab at a school or a network at a business, then you could use that disc to install the exact same setup on all your machines in much less time!