X terminal
{{Short description|Computing device}}
{{Distinguish|Terminal emulator|Xterm}}
Image:Network Computing Devices NCD-88k X terminal.jpg NCD-88k X terminal]]
Image:Xserver and display manager.svg}} and {{mono|xedit}}) are running on the same computer.]]
In computing, an X terminal is a display/input terminal for X Window System client applications. X terminals enjoyed a period of popularity in the early 1990s when they offered a lower total cost of ownership alternative to a full Unix workstation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
An X terminal runs an 'X server'. In X, the usage of "client" and "server" is from the viewpoint of the programs: the X server supplies a screen, keyboard, mouse and touchscreen to client applications. This connects to an X display manager (introduced in X11R3) running on a central machine, using XDMCP (X Display Manager Control Protocol, introduced in X11R4).{{Citation | first1 = Linda | last1 = Mui | first2 = Eric | last2 = Pearce | title = X Window System | volume = 8: X Window System Administrator's Guide for X11 Release 4 and Release 5 | edition = 3rd | publisher = O'Reilly & Associates | date = July 1993 | type = softcover | isbn = 0-937175-83-8}}.{{Page needed |date=October 2015}}
Thin clients have somewhat supplanted X terminals in that they are equipped with added flash memory and software for communication with remote desktop protocols.
Vendors
In the early 1990s, several vendors introduced X terminals including HP, DEC (including the VT1000 series), IBM, Samsung, NCD, Gipsi,{{Citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nzsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT39 | title = InfoWorld | date = 28 May 1990}}. Tektronix,{{cite journal |last=Corcoran |first=Cate |year=1992 |title= Study shows 115 percent increase in X terminal sales for 1991 |journal=InfoWorld |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=26 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9T0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=x-terminal&pg=PA26 |quote= Network Computing Devices dominated the market... NCD, HP, Digital Equipment Corporation, IBM and Tektronix – the top five X terminal vendors – accounted for 74 percent of shipments...}} and Visual Technology.{{cite journal | last=Staff writer | date=August 7, 1989 | url=https://techmonitor.ai/technology/visual_technology_files_for_chapter_11_bankruptcy_but_readies_new_x_terminals | title=Visual Technology Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, but Readies New X Terminals | journal=Computer Business Review | publisher=New Statesman Media Group | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240226210300/https://techmonitor.ai/technology/visual_technology_files_for_chapter_11_bankruptcy_but_readies_new_x_terminals | archivedate=February 26, 2024}}