I've used Ubuntu on my PC for years, currently on Ubuntu 11.04. I'm trying to run Lubuntu 11.04 "Try Lubuntu without installing it" from a live CD on it to see how I get on with it before deciding whether to install it on an old laptop.

It gets as far as a terminal screen showing the messages below then it stops:

Loading the saved-state of the serial devices
Starting NTP server nptd
Starting Bluetooth
Welcome to Ubuntu 11.04.....
* Documentation.............
To run a ...................
See "Man sudo-root..........
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

It got stuck at the terminal screen on my PC. Adding 'nomodeset' to the startup options fixed that.
It also got stuck at the terminal screen on my laptop. Typing 'sudo service lxdm start' at the terminal screen fixed that.
I didn't want to install it on my PC so I haven't tried that, but it installs on my laptop without any problems.