A follow-up to my previous post about nVidia drivers.

Before, some modifications had to be done to the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, to enable not only the external monitors, but the laptop FN keys for brightness. With the new nVidia (310.44 as of this writing) drivers, the external outputs (both VGA and HDMI) are detected, with NO modifications needed.

Simply plugging in a monitor to either puts a box on your screen saying there is a new monitor detected, do you want to use/configure it. Click YES, and it comes on. I haven't played with any of the twinview/xinerama settings, but basic functionality works just fine.