Before there was the Mac , there was theLisa , Apple ’s first computer to have a in writing user port . Lisa was release 40 years ago this week , and to lionize the day of remembrance , the Computer History Museum — which calls Lisa “ Apple ’s most crucial flop”—is offering thesource codification of the Lisa software freeto download .
The download is a mere 7 MiB press , 30 MB expanded . You do , however , have to agree to a permission agreement before you may get the download , and leave your name and electronic mail savoir-faire . And then once you download it , you ’ll need to figure outhow to run it .
A look at the Lisa GUI order you instantly where the Mac has its root . In fact , the Mac ’s desktopstilltakes its cues from Lisa , with pulldown menus across the top and icons for filing cabinet and apps . The Lisa computer software draw on a Motorola 68000 and even allowed for multitasking , but the 68000 had a punishing clip handle the Lisa software , and the estimator was slow and expensive , and it became a footnote after the Mac set up in 1984 .
Named after Steve Jobs ’s daughter , the Lisa made its unveiling on January 19 , 1983 . It was price at $ 9,995 , which was several thousand dollars more expensive than IBM PCs with statement - channel interface . Apple hoped that the GUI was enough to have the best the high toll and ho-hum performance , but the computing machine did n’t deal .
The Macintosh made its debut in 1984 , at a more reasonable $ 2,495 , Apple also released new Lisa computers at the same fourth dimension , but it was the Mac that enamour on , and Lisa was eventually trash . Suffice to say , without Lisa there would be no Mac , and the history of the machine is fascinating . you’re able to larn more about the history of Lisa on theComputer History Museum website .
The Computer History Museum , located in Mountain View , California ( about 9 naut mi north of Apple Park in Cupertino ) , is hosting anevent to celebrate Lisa ’s fortieth anniversary . loudspeaker system who were part of the Lisa maturation team , such asBill Atkinson , Bruce Daniels , andJohn Couch , are featured . The event will also have demos with a working Lisa calculator , and an Apple - themed scavenger hunt . The event is on January 31 at 5:30 P.M. Pacific , andregistrationis require .
