[Such87]

Really basic question, just don't want to sound dumb if I ever might need to say "X11". How is it pronouced? ten eleven? ten one one? ex eleven?

thanks

[wataru]

X11 is version 11 of the X Window System. I've never seen anything indicating that this "X" is a Roman numeral, so it should be pronounced "ex."

Edit: In the Wikipedia article I just linked to:

X derives its name as a successor to a pre-1983 window system called W (the letter X directly following W in the Latin alphabet). W ran under the V operating system.

Also of note:

Modern attempts to address criticisms of X by replacing it completely include Berlin/Fresco and the Y Window System.

So what will happen after Z?

[macmike42]

It's an "ex". You can even just call it X, and as long as you are not talking about Apple X11 on Mac OS X, most geeks won't get confused. The only pronunciation that will universally get you laughed at is "X-Windows".

Edit: That Wikipedia article, while informative, is a little tongue-in-cheek. Although it did derive its name from W, X didn't really originally run on "V", it ran on System V, as in System Five UNIX. The predecessor of which was System IV. Also the Y Window System is hardly a successor to X11 as of yet. Actually, it looks like Y Windows is not even a single idea.