[dragon]

What about a Minimal Debian install.

Ubuntu is Deiban based anyway so if your used to the package-management on ubuntu you should find it pretty much the same on debian depending on which repository's you use.

I usually use the Net-install disc providing it can find the Nic its simple.
Just uncheck everything (Even "Standard Desktop") and you will get a very basic Debian installation which just brings up a command shell when you login.

then you can use apt to install what you want (Gui.etc)
Infact you can use synamptic in Debian since its just a gui front end to apt anyway.