Bug 220655

Description of problem:

I just put together a new motherboard, a new 1440x900 monitor, and a 
new FC6 install.  I try to stay away from proprietary drivers because
they've caused me nothing but problems in the past.  I expected to have
trouble with my 1440x900 monitor and I did (but that's a different
issue).  The problem is that the release notes don't say anything about
proprietary video drivers.  However, even a casual web search for
how to fix up a 1440x900 display under Linux will result in plenty of
web pages that discuss various proprietary drivers.  So now the new
Linux user is puzzled - if this driver is necessary, how to get it?
Which copy to trust?  Why wasn't it on the install media?  Why won't
yum just fetch it?

I think the Release Notes owes the new user at least a short mention
of proprietary video drivers and probably a pointer off to some place
that describes them in more detail.  Otherwise, the casual user will
simply follow one or more of the sets of directions from the web,
download a driver and go on, potentially screwing up some other part
of his/her install (like libGL).

At fedoraproject.org, Mike Harris spells out a lot of the pitfalls that
come with these drivers so it's clearly a widespread problem.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:

Read release notes...

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Find Linux newbie
2. Install FC6 on odd hardware
3. Stand back and watch
  
Actual results:

Screwed up libGL

Expected results:

I'd rather use free drivers but that doesn't look likely any time soon.
Second choice would be to have a known good site to get these drivers
from and a pointer in the release notes that tells me about it and why
it is better than some random site.

Additional info: