I don't know exactly all the libraries responsible for graphics rendering and acceleration in a common Linux PC of today but I wonder if I can install an up-to-date Linux (like XUbuntu 11.10 or Arch) on an old laptop with nVidia GeForce 4 Go 420 and have everything working (basic video playing, window composition, glxgears, I don't mean to play heavy 3D games or HD video) just fine or will I have problems (and what could be the ways of solving them)?
Can today Linux/X/Mesa/whatever versions use OpenGL with nVidia GeForce 4 Go 420?
xorg;nvidia