Ubuntu linux is normally a very easy to install system , based on debian it uses the dpkg and apt systems . However if you try and install it from a dodgy cdr with a dodgy cdrom drive you get problems . This is what happended to me , as well as a few other gotchas but i'll limit myself to the ones i think i might understand ;).
The network install option is there in ubuntu you just have to look hard for it and think in the debian way.

The process is :

• boot from the ubuntu cd-rom in expert mode or from a debian boot floppy.
• choose add modules from cdrom
• add the choose debian mirror module
• mount the ubuntu cd-rom or loopback the image on another machine
• share it via http or ftp as /ubuntu
• point the mirror module at it

the rest is normal
it doesn't seem to work from the main online archive at archive.ubuntu.com until after the base is installed.