On source-based distros

[adfellin]

# time prepare_disk /dev/hda1
Real: ~4h

# time install gentoo
Real: ~2h

# cd /usr/src/linux
# time make menuconfig
Real: 30m

# time make && make install
Real: ~2h

# time emerge ratpoison
Real: 30m

# time emerge xorg-x11
Real: ~2h

# time emerge mozilla-firefox
Real: 6h 43m 16.635s

I am so glad I chose ratpoison over gnome.