Ars Technica: Linux.Ars: The Power of X

"One of the most difficult ideas for new Linux users to grasp is the seemingly esoteric means by which graphics get displayed on the screen. Indeed, the concept of different window managers and its architecture are utterly foreign to many new users. Terms like X, X11, XFree, X.org, Xwin, and Composite get thrown around, adding to the confusion. As Linux and other free operating systems continue to evolve on the desktop, X continues to be an enigma to new users. While we have looked at how both KDE and GNOME interact with X during our last reviews, there has not been a real central point of authority that dictates how the 'Free Desktop' should take shape.

"Enter freedesktop.org. A conglomeration of developers from multiple vendors, sponsors, and independent desktop developers representing multiple projects, freedesktop.org--spanning nearly 50 projects--has quickly established itself as the clearinghouse for interoperability in the Open Source landscape..."

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