Help Me, X11, X86, & Linux?

[MacBoy88]

First off What is X11, And x86?
What is diffrence?
And i also want to install Red Hat on my iBook? Can I do that, and I read somewhere that I need one of the "x**" Programs?

Someone please help me !!

BTW, What are some good programs for x11?

Thank you in advance.

MacBoy88, 14

 

[bousozoku]

X11 is XWindows, a graphics library and simple windowing tool primarily used with UNIX.

x86 is a processor instruction set used by Intel, AMD, VIA, Transmeta, and others. This is opposed to the PPC instruction set, which Macs use.

If you want Red Hat Linux, you need to use it with an x86-compatible computer or emulate one on your Mac using Virtual PC.

Instead, you could get Yellow Dog Linux, its close cousin, or SuSE or Debian, which are other varieties of Linux with run on your iBook.

 

[icetraxxg5]

First, X11 is a Windowing system for unix based systems, sort of like Aqua on MacOS X but it runs on multiple platforms, OSes, and it is open source ( Apple supports an X11 environment to use on MacOS X, http://www.apple.com/macosx/x11/ ). x86 is a processor architecture, x86 is what most intel (pentium) and AMD processors are. Macs use PowerPC processors.

Redhat Linux is for x86 based processors and wont work on a PowerPC processor. There are many Linuxes similar to Redhat Linux for PowerPC processors, Yellow Dog Linux for example (www.yellowdoglinux.com)

 

[shadowfax]

i just have to point out Fink as the easiest way to get X11 apps to complement installing apple's X11. check it out.

 

[janey]

openoffice.org is pretty cool and works with X11
Pretty decent alternative to Office

 

[cubist]

Yes, with Apple's X11 you can get most open source software to work on Mac OS X. Trying to run Linux on the same box will just lead to confusion. Mac OS X has all the Unix goodness, plus a nicer GUI and commercial software (including good games).

Get the X11 beta from Apple's website and install it. Then you can use OpenOffice, FreeCiv, Gimp, etc.