Two surround sound questions?

I read a 5.1 speaker system has to be set up like this:

http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/product...

But my room isn't set up to have the speakers on the left and right of me. It's too big. So the walls are too far away and I don't want to get extensions and it might be too far anyway. My first question is will it matter if all the speakers are in front of you and not set up properly like in the picture above? Will it still be better than regular stereo sound?

doesnt really matter u can spread it out the main thing is that the center speaker should be in center and nothing else matters here is a example

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/articles...

the thing on the extreme left is the subwoofer u can also place it there hope this helps the picture shows the surround speakers in their most forward position - ideally they should be a few feet above and behind you you will not get much effect from them that way! I have lg home theater with 5.1 surround system. So far that i knew if you put all the speakers in the front (asuming the left and right for rear is put in a line up with the front speakers). you will slightly hear the different but not as good as if you put the rear (right and left) speakers were they suposed to be. and i dont know with other product but in my system you can set the volume on each speakers, so even with large distance it will make sure you hear them. For example the front is only 1 meter but the rear speaker have 3 meter from the center point ( this is you in the middle), so set up the rear speaker volume higher than the front speakers.