Debian Installation

It does not matter which version one uses, one should download DVD-1 for installation. It Install the Base Desktop first and lets one select from Taskel the Desktop one prefers.

No Windows Manager at all.

One can chose Windows Managers on top of GNOME, including Enlightenment. Enlightenment is 401MB big. 

Other Windows Managers from Matchbox, Fluxbox to Blackbox to OpenBox are very light weight.

But my favorite ice IceWM.

Awesome is another one.

Some of them do not have log out and one has to restart the computer which is a pain. Those which do not log out scheme I never use.