Apple Lisa II Personal Computer

Apple Lisa II Personal Computer

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Description
The Apple Lisa introduced the graphic user interface (GUI) into the Apple Computer Corporation's line of personal computers. Instead of using only text-based commands, users could employ pictorial icons displayed on the screen to initiate operations. Officially, "Lisa" stood for "Local Integrated Software Architecture," but it was also the name of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' daughter. This computer was also Jobs "baby," as he championed its creation and believed it would revolutionize personal computing. Apple spent four years and $50 million to develop it, but it turned out to be a commercial flop, in large part because of the $10,000 per unit cost. Only 80,000 were eventually sold. The Lisa is most important historically as the computer that pioneered concepts later used in the far more successful Macintosh.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
microcomputer
Date made
1983
maker
Apple Computer
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
glass (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 14 in x 19 in x 14 in; 35.56 cm x 48.26 cm x 35.56 cm
ID Number
2005.0056.01
catalog number
2005.0056.01
accession number
2005.0056
Credit Line
Roslyn Lang
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Family & Social Life
Computers & Business Machines
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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