[jkrellner]

you basicly start from a clean ubuntu install and start stripping it away..

ofcourse a 'server' install is much better aka the smallest install possible and then add what you need..

also look up the USRT tutorial, how to speed up everything..

a few pointers, remove everything you don't need from the start up
don't use GNOME or KDE let XBMC start @ xorg..
update the splash to the XBMC splash...

The ONLY trick with the server install is if you need to run something that is kernel-dependent, it can cause problems. This was the case with my touchscreen (which is still not fully working but I got past the kernel problem). If you download an Ubuntu "Alternate Install" CD and boot to the menu, you can then "modify option" or something like that and select command-line only install. This will use the generic kernel. It is lean and mean. All you do from there is add openssh, lirc, x and xbmc (and whatever else you need).

I did not bother with the startup screen. Since I have two monitors and the smaller one (not the theater projector) is the primary X screen, the theater screen stays black until the XBMC logo pops up for a quick second and then voila -- XBMC in all its glory.

Just make sure you are comfortable with the command line, cause it's all you've got.