[argsnd]

Presumably every pixel is 32 bits rather than just 8. So the count starts at 33.2MB just for the display.

[stavros]

It is now, but back then it was 1 byte, with typical resolutions being 800x600. There were high-color modes but for a period it was rare to have good enough hardware for it.

[cout]

I have run x11 in 16-color and 256-color mode, but it was not fun. The palette would get swapped when changing windows, which was quite disorienting. Hardware that could do 16-bit color was common by the late 90s.

[hsbauauvhabzb]

Damn pixel bit-depth bloat!