FreeBSD desktop?

[ray at redshift.com]

  Maybe someone on the hackers or x11 list can help me get going the right
direction here.  I can setup FreeBSD servers like the wind - tweak the kernel,
you name it.  So this weekend I tried to install FreeBSD 5.4 on my desktop -
what a mess.  I never could get anything to run, other than startx or xstart or
something.  I ended up once with a blank desktop (I think I typed X) and another
time with the same desktop, but with 3 open windows.  Anyway, I finally gave up. 

  Anyone have any run down on loading FreeBSD as your desktop?  I am trying to
go with FreeBSD because I use it for my servers, but I feel like I'm lacking a
broad understanding of how Unix handles windows.  I get the impression there is
a server that deals with windows called X windows and then there are different
desktop managers (such as KDE, Gnome, etc) - but I don't understand the
interplay between them and the Kernel as it relates to how I normally see FreeBSD.

  I'm wondering if someone can give me an overview?

  I'm also wondering if I'm barking up the wrong tree.  I know Mac uses Darwin,
which is based on BSD.  And in the past, I have loaded up Redhat and SUSE and
ended up with a nice desktop - but with FreeBSD I didn't have much luck, even
though I installed just about everything on the install CD's.  From what I could
see, there were a ton of things to configure, but I couldn't find any good
documentation on setting up my monitor or what the heck was going on overall -
even in my BSD books, not a lot of help.

  Anyway, I am wondering if maybe running SUSE or Fedora or something might be
better.  I'm reading one article right now that says this thing called Xandros
Desktop 3 is great - so far it looks nice in the article and I may give that a try.

  I've been using Windows XP for my desktop for so long and am so used to so
many applications on it - I think it would be difficult (at this time) to change
over completely.  Unless Wine really does work well enough to run some
applications I can't live without (e.g. Eudora or Pagemaker, etc).  

  Anyway, any help anyone can provide would be great?  I just feel like I'm
lacking a core understanding of how Windowing and desktop interfaces to the
Kernel.  And like I say, as much as I would like to make this all happen on
FreeBSD, it seems like Linux maybe is a better choice?

  Anyone?

Ray