XBOX, OSX, Windows XP, BMW X Series, Nissan XTerra…
What is it with X anyway? Thoughts…
X = “marks the spot”
X = the thing in the formula that matters (the algebraic placeholder)
X = “ex” as in the opposite of everything else
X = cross it out (perhaps explains why Ctrl-X = Cut?)
X = crossing (Ped Xing, XTerra)
X = Christ (as in XMas)
X = Mature (rated X)
XXX = Bad-boy (Noname moonshine, porno or action movie hero)
eXtreme, as in “more” than anything else
Generation X as in “for me”
“X” makes a cool sound (“eckss”)
“X” looks cool, more a symbol than a letter or number
“X” evokes Roman classicism and masculinity
Any other associations ore insight into the recent craze?
Has X jumped the shark yet?
Will Apple ever release an XI OS, or will they go to X2?
For BMW x usually means 4wheel drive. Even before the x series, like the 318iX. You could infer a bunch of reasons, the 4 points of the x perhaps?
I thought it originated with the meaning "eXperiementa"l, as in the airplane that broke the sound barrier: The Bell X-1, which I think you could say started it all back in 1947
Latin:
ex or e prep. with abl. (1) in space , [from or out of]; ‘ex equo pugnare’,[to fight on horseback] (operating from it); ‘ex adverso’, [opposite]. (2) in time, [since]; also [immediately after]; ‘aliud ex alio’, [one thing after another**].(3) in other relations: to denote origin**, [from, away from, out of, of]; ‘ex animo’, [heartily]; ‘ex industria’, [on purpose]; ‘unus ex’, [one of]; ‘pocula ex auro’, [gold cups]; to denote cause or occasion, [from, on account of, by reason of]; ‘e vulnere mori’, [to die of a wound]; to denote correspondence, [in accordance with]; ‘ex re et ex tempore’, [according to time and circumstance]; to denote advantage, e.g. ‘e republica’, [for the benefit of the state]; in gen. [in regard to]; ‘ex parte’, [in part].
Perhaps English X came from ex of Latin? Maybe it has something to do with SPACE, TIME and DEATH: Universial Philosophy of Life Cycle??
I think it has to do with the fact that x can link to a lot of interesting things. Are there any words associated with “x” that just suck? Not many… as opposed to other letters of the alphabet that do not have a rich association.
the term “x86” tells a lot about me. I like computers. In this case, it refers to wintel architecture. The x is a specific place holder refering to the intitial days of processor classification. 286, 386, 486, etc… I also like designing custom compuer cases in my spare time.
So, I guess, for me X is a technological reference that is fairly subtle, so I like it. And it is not arbitrary.
If you are trying to say I suck because I have an X in my tag, I doubt you should give me that much credit for being a major component of the letter’s general conotation for being good or bad.
jesus and illiterate prisoners signing release forms. I was thinking this the other day, abc etc. denoted simplicity and learning?? The explosion on extreme sports into the mainstream in the past ten years has certainly helped. Mac OS X - means ten thats it. A bit more of a cooler name as apple has reinvented itself since. Feel free to bitch and argue i love it.
Its so the product reminds us of the word “SEX”. Drew Carey talks about the same thing. He says the trend wont stop until we have a food blender called “The SXBJ69”