If thats all you did then xfce might not work, too many dependancies.. but blackbox/fluxbox might, they are both small enough. Can you "right click" with the n800? (Still waiting on my tax refund to buy my own).

I too am a Unix Admin and look forward to seeing what I can and can't do with this device.

If a normal WM is possible, as your videos truly make it look, then so much more will be possible with this device.