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I hope you aren't annoyed by this post, as it doesn't directly answer your question. But I think you should really give Debian some consideration.

Debian uses the same apt style package management system that you are used to with Ubuntu. However, Debian is (IMHO) more stable. Also, you might be able to achieve a faster system (depending on what you want that system to do/look like) if you build a system from base using a Debian net-install.

(Warning... overflow of Debian fanaticism...) I achieved a pretty fast system using Debian and a lightweight windows manager. First, I used the Debian net-install disk to do a base-system only install on my home desktop PC.

Then, after booting into the system, I upgraded the system from Debian Etch to Debian Lenny by adjusting the /etc/apt/sources.list file and running aptitude -y full-upgrade. (You'll want to be using Lenny if you want all the latest packages.)

Then I installed the Fluxbox windows manager (substitute your own favorite light-weight windows manager) with sudo apt-get install fluxbox. Then, for login management, I installed Gnome login manager with sudo apt-get install gdm.

I restarted, and booted into a fast system, mainly because 1) I used a lightweight windows manager, and 2) I avoided installing some services that I never would have used (like you might get in an standard Ubuntu installation). IMHO, it is overburdened DEs like Gnome and KDE that eat most of the performance.

Debian is, of course, a bit more hands-on to configure at first than Ubuntu (for example, you have to set config alsa yourself before you get sound) -- but if you were considering Slackware then you could probably handle Debian.

PerlCoder (http://www.indicium.us)