I’ve just installed the Ubuntu linux version 5.04 - the so called Hoary Hedgehog (what a crazy name?!) and it just works fine. Anyway, some workarounds were needed, because I downloaded the iso, and then burned it with Roxio ToastIt! on 24x, and it failed to install the base system while I was in normal install mode.
I burned another CD with 8x speed, failed again - so I changed to “server” mode at the boot prompt (the expert mode simply failed on initializing the IDE devices.. argh) - finally, I was able to install the base system, so I had a Linux on my winchester.
Ubuntu goes the Mac OS X way - the root user is disabled. You need to sudo everything, which is boring. On my powerbook, i’ve started with re-enabling root, here i will not spend my valueable time on it 
To get a working XServer, you need to type: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop This command will install all stuff, and it will work fine. If your CD is broken as my one, simply sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list and remove or comment out the line that adds the CD’s repository - so you’ll be able to install the Gnome desktop too.
If you need midnight commander, uncomment the Ubuntu software universe repositories as well ;), then you can do: sudo apt-get install mc
If you have an LCD display, and eventually try to run it with Nvidia driver, you need to edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file: you need to disable the dri mode, so comment out the Load “dri” line under the Section “Module”. You need to modify the settings for the default Monitor as well: Section "Monitor" Now, you’ll see the desktop in other resolution than the original 640×480
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
HorizSync 30.0 - 130.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0
Option "Flatpanel"
EndSection
To the folks out there using the buggy old Via 8233 cards with Via Technologies VIA1612A chipsets, and you hear distorted and wicked sound, you need to add the following to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base : options snd-pcm-oss dsp_map=1 and restart the computer, or do update-modules. goodbye scratchy sound