Is there a better driver?

[avj]

More info on google requirements. If you are on a netbook the minimum resolution requirements may be the problem.

Code:

Linux System Configuration
Minimum:
Kernel: 2.4 or later
glibc: 2.3.2 w/ NPTL or later
XFree86-4.0 or x.org R6.7 or later
CPU: Pentium 3, 500Mhz
System Memory (RAM): 512MB
Hard Disk: 500MB free space
Network Speed: 128 Kbits/sec
Graphics Card: DirectX9 and 3D capable with 64MB of VRAM
Screen: 1024x768, "16-bit High Color" screen
Recommended:
Kernel 2.6 or later
glibc 2.3.5 w/ NPTL or later
x.org R6.7 or later
System Memory (RAM): 1GB
Hard Disk: 2GB free space
Network Speed: 768 Kbits/sec
Graphics Card: DirectX9 and 3D capable with 256MB of VRAM
Screen: 1280x1024, 32 bit color
LSB must be installed in order for Google Earth to run on Linux. Your operating system should install this dependency automatically when you install Google Earth.
Google Earth is officially supported against the most current versions of the Ubuntu and RHEL Linux distributions.
Although we do not officially support Google Earth on other Linux distributions, many users have successfully run Google Earth on these platforms.

Info found here.
https://support.google.com/earth/answer/20701?hl=en