Apple Lisa

Apple Lisa was a pioneering personal computer designed by Apple Inc. in the early 1980s. Named after Steve Jobs' daughter, Lisa Nicole Brennan, it was among the first personal computers to offer a graphical user interface (GUI) in a machine aimed at individual business users.

Development[edit | edit source]

Development of the Lisa began in 1978 as a project to create a more powerful version of the then-popular Apple II. The project's direction changed significantly when Steve Jobs, after visiting Xerox PARC, decided that the Lisa would feature a graphical user interface similar to the one he saw at PARC. This decision led to the inclusion of features like the mouse and window-based computing, which were revolutionary at the time.

Features[edit | edit source]

The Apple Lisa featured a Motorola 68000 microprocessor, 1 MB of RAM, and a 5 MB external hard drive. It was equipped with a 12-inch monochrome monitor that displayed a resolution of 720x364 pixels. The Lisa's operating system, known as Lisa OS, was one of the first to use a graphical user interface that allowed users to interact with the computer using graphical icons and a mouse rather than text-based commands.

Impact[edit | edit source]

Despite its innovative features, the Lisa was a commercial failure for Apple Inc.. Its high price tag of $9,995 made it inaccessible to most individuals and small businesses. Additionally, its software was prone to bugs, and its performance did not meet the expectations of many users. However, the Lisa's GUI inspired the development of the Macintosh, Apple's more successful follow-up project. The Lisa is now considered a significant step in the evolution of personal computing.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The Apple Lisa's influence on the development of personal computing is undeniable. It paved the way for the widespread adoption of graphical user interfaces, which are now a standard feature of personal computers. The Lisa project also contributed to the development of important software concepts, such as the clipboard for cut, copy, and paste operations, and the use of "drag and drop" for file management.

Discontinuation and Collectibility[edit | edit source]

Apple discontinued the Lisa in 1986, after releasing several revised versions in an attempt to boost sales. Today, the Apple Lisa is a coveted item among collectors of vintage computers, valued for its historical significance and rarity.