X11 quits immediately!

I'm having lots of problems with my new MacBook. After fixing some network/airport related issues, I'm having all kinds of difficulty getting X11 to work - all I'm asking is to be able to open an X11-capable terminal and to log on to my linux machine. I installed X11 from the Tiger DVD, but when I start it up, it just quits. Console says:

XFree86 Version 4.4.0 / X Window System
(protocol Version 11, revision 0, vendor release 6600)
[DRI] screen 0 installation complete
Screen 0 added: 1280x800 @ (0,0)
Could not init font path element /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/, removing from list!

I recently saw a thread about the EXACT SAME trouble here,

http://lists.apple.com/archives/x11-users/2006/Apr/msg00000.html

but since it has not been answered, I take it this is currently an unfixed bug. Is this true? Does anyone know of a workaround? I've found various suggestions on fora: "Remove your .xinitrc file" (I don't have one), "Remove the system xinitrc file" (I renamed it). Nothing works!!! Help! I need to log into a computer across the country and get work done, and I was depending on this stupid Mac to do it. If it can't, I would have bought a windows machine for less money!

Best,
Dev

Macbook 1.83GHz Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Macbook 1.83GHz Mac OS X (10.4.6)