That's the thing about Ubuntu (or, Linux in general). When a user has a problem like this, it's not supposed to be his/her fault. And yet whenever a user says "This thing isn't working", Ubuntu supporters immediately say "Ubuntu is fine, your stuff isn't right". It shouldn't be the user's fault. Ever.
If a user's system is unsupported, the OS should know this and fail gracefully. Don't blame the user. Especially if Ubuntu is designed for the "every-user", don't tell them to go to some website. To them, it's just broken and they'll gladly switch back to wherever they came from.
Fail into what? If the video card isn't supported, it's not going to fail into anything really usable.
It's funny that that most people would be happier if you tell them something can't be done than if you gave them some obscure bash incantations. I'm hoping the linux community won't come to regret this influx of new users.
Odd comment in the thread about Ubuntu becoming mainstream. Do you want linux mainstream? It's understandable if not, being mainstream means taking on all those really computer illiterate and all their... special questions.
But if people do want linux to be mainstream that means coming over the users, not the other way around. If you want people to use your product you can't go putting them down because they don't "get" your system. They're using the computer to make their lives easier/better, not to gain your approval.
If a user's system is unsupported, the OS should know this and fail gracefully. Don't blame the user. Especially if Ubuntu is designed for the "every-user", don't tell them to go to some website. To them, it's just broken and they'll gladly switch back to wherever they came from.