XFree86 happened, it was an easy port to Linux and opened up a world of X11 software. The 'win' of Windows was not due to the adoption of X11 but due to the fac

XFree86 happened, it was an easy port to Linux and opened up a world of X11 software. The 'win' of Windows was not due to the adoption of X11 but due to the fact that it ran on all those clones out there while the Unix vendors were busily fighting their own turf wars - the 'Unix wars' [1]. Microsoft's underhanded tactics were another part of securing their 'victory', this was back in the time when manufacturers would loose their Windows licence if they dared to offer any alternative choice besides what MS had to offer. No Windows licence may not have been a problem for a company like Sun or Silicon Graphics but it did keep 'clones' vendors from straying. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_wars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_wars