X based Graphical User Interfaces

1. Motif is actually written using the X Window software. So if your friend is telling you they don't have any of X, then he is lying.
2. The command

   xterm -geometry 80x24 &

   will open an xterm window. That window will include a shell for you to issue UNIX commands.

   The ampersand (&) is recommended so you can still use the parent window to issue commands.

   If an error message similar to

   Could not open display.

   was displayed, your DISPLAY environment variable is not set. Issue

   setenv DISPLAY localhost:0 (C shell)
   or
   DISPLAY=localhost:0; export DISPLAY

   where localhost is the name of the system you're using. That command will tell the application (xterm) which system to use to display.
3. Add the line

   XTermgeometry: 80x24
   

   Then, from the command line, simply issue

   xterm &
   

4. The command

   xterm -g black -gb white &
   

   will open a white xterm with black characters.

   To create the same effect, the lines

   XTermforeground: white
   XTermbackground: black
   

   could be added to the .Xdefaults file, so that every xterm command issued will contain the same attributes.
5. The command

   xlsfonts | more
   

   will list fonts available to you during this session.
6. An xclock application can be started by

   xclock -geometry 100x100+0-0 &
   

   or the line

   Xclockgeometry: 100x100+0-0
   

   could be added to the .Xdefaults file.