One of HP's first X terminals ran on a 186. The same beleaguered 16-bit CPU that made the Tandy 2000 go, also powered X terminals in the early 90s (albeit at twice the speed).
For all its "bloat", X could support a very sophisticated GUI -- over the network -- on very limited hardware by the standards of 30 years ago, let alone today.
For all its "bloat", X could support a very sophisticated GUI -- over the network -- on very limited hardware by the standards of 30 years ago, let alone today.