As of Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), the distribution featured something known as “Restricted Drivers Manager” to appease open-source purists who basically believe that anything closed-source is bad. I believe that this could not be further from the truth. I believe that being open means:
- Creating a better alternative for cheaper
- Presenting all the choices to the end-user
- Being willing to meet other vendors halfway
- Enabling the end-user to pick and choose a solution that would work for him/her.
From making mistakes installing the nVidia graphics card drivers on my computer numerous times, I have finally learned the magic sequence to do things without ever touching the Restricted Drivers Manager. I call it the 10-Step Program to 3D Acceleration:
- Install OS
- Update. If there is no kernel update, skip to Step 6
- Reboot (into the new kernel, obviously)
- Uninstall everything that has to do with the old kernel, install build-essential
- Reboot
- Install graphics drivers and configure accordingly
- Reboot
- Test 3D acceleration
- Install programs
- Restore files (if any)
The Restricted Drivers Manager will tempt you to click on it twice, but ignore it like an itch and it will go away.
