[jlarocco]

> What I find disturbing here is the expectation that they would include it.

If it's always been included in the past, why wouldn't it be included now?

Maybe it's just me, but when I buy an "upgrade", I expect it to be a better version of what I already have.

Also, the installer didn't just not include X11, it actively removed the version he had installed. If the current install isn't compatible with Mountain Lion they could have popped up a message box or prompted him to upgrade the next time he ran an X app. There's no reason to delete things from his machine without telling him.

[X-Istence]

Except that the old version came with the old OS... also XQuartz installs itself as part of the system so that you don't run into issues using an older version of XQuartz when you upgrade your OS. I just re-ran GIMP, and it prompted me to go download X11. Downloaded, installed, and now everything works as expected.

I really don't see an issue with this. It is not like it is completely removed (XQuartz BTW is completely open source, so if Apple stopped developing it someone else could pick it up).

> Also, the installer didn't just not include X11, it actively removed the version he had installed. If the current install isn't compatible with Mountain Lion they could have popped up a message box or prompted him to upgrade the next time he ran an X app. There's no reason to delete things from his machine without telling him.

Instead it removed the software, and on first run it told him he would need to download XQuartz which is available freely ... The old software is not compatible, leaving it in place could have caused issues. I don't see why the solution Apple used is so wrong, they clearly did present a popup and didn't just let it fail without errors.

[johncoltrane]

X11 used to be included on install disks (possibly as an "extra") but it wasn't installed by default, IIRC.