Mmm.. dunno how useful this is to you or not, but I just now did "cat ubuntu-11.10-64bit.iso > /dev/sdcard" and then booted my ZBOX HD-HD41 from the SDCARD ("Live CD" mode). It took perhaps 60-90 seconds to get to the desktop, but runs fine (and quick) once there.

That same box boots to a (more minimal) desktop from SSD in under 30 seconds on an older Ubuntu.

I'm posting this note from within the "Live SD" environment.

Cheers