AN APPLE LISA 1 MICROCOMPUTER. Apple Lisa 1 Microcomputer. Apple Computer, Inc.: Cupertino, CA, 1983. 356 x 470 x 395 mm (14 x 18 1/2 x 15 1/2 in). Model A6SB100 with built-in monitor and 2 5.25 in. 'Twiggy' floppy drives, Apple ProFile 5MB Drive Model A9M0005, Apple Keyboard Model A6MB101, Apple Mouse Model A9M0050. RARE FUNCTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE COMPUTER CREATED BY APPLE. Released in 1983, the Lisa's development was initially closely managed by Steve Jobs who had a vision for a powerful, high-end home computing system. While an official acronym, 'local integrated systems architecture', was developed for the project, Jobs later admitted to biographer Walter Isaacson that it was named for his daughter, Lisa, showing just how close to the project Jobs felt. Development of the Lisa began in 1979. Following the success of the Apple II (for which much of the credit and glory was given to Steve Wozniak for his programming prowess), Jobs was looking for a project to make his mark on. However, Jobs was not satisfied with the initial concept of a $2,000 device with a standard text display. As always, he was looking to push the envelope and 'make a dent in the universe.' The breakthrough came during the legendary visit by Jobs and other Apple engineers and developers to Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center). Jobs had offered Xerox the opportunity to purchase 100,000 shares of Apple stock at $10 per share in exchange for allowing the Apple team to come to a demonstration of Xerox's latest technology. Initially, the developers at Xerox tried to show only a small part of what they were working on, which infuriated Jobs who called their venture capital division demanding the full demonstration they had agreed to. Xerox acquiesced and arranged a second demonstration during which they showed Jobs and the Apple team their newest devices developed by Alan Kay that featured a graphical user interface (GUI) facilitated by a bitmapped screen which users could use a mouse to interact with instead of the conventional text DOS that computers up until this point utilized. Jobs was so overcome with excitement at the revolutionary system that he could not contain himself from moving, recalling 'It was like a veil being lifted from my eyes. I could see what the future of computing was destined to be' (Isaacson p. 97). Jobs insisted that this was the way forward for the Lisa project, encouraging Bill Atkinson to develop their own GUI which improved the 'desktop' like feel by enabling windows to stack by clipping into each other creating an overlapped effect. Eventually, Jobs was removed from the Lisa project by Apple's CEO Mike Scott and Chairman Mike Markkula due to his disputes with the project's actual manager, Jim Couch. After this, Jobs turned his attention to the Macintosh line of computers which was also in development at the same time under the direction of Jef Raskin. Despite its ingenuity and technical improvements over the GUI computers launched by Xerox, the Lisa 1 did not find much commercial success, with only an estimated 10,000 units produced and sold. This was in part due to its high price point of $9,995, unreliable 5.25 in. 'Twiggy' drives, and rumors already circulating at the time of release that the forthcoming Macintosh would provide the high-power GUI experience of the Lisa at a lower price point. In 1984, Apple released the Lisa 2 featuring a better functioning 3.5 in. 400k Sony microfloppy drive at half the price point. Apple offered Lisa 1 owners a free upgrade to the Lisa 2, switching out the 'Twiggy' drives and replacing the faceplate. Because of this, the already limited quantity of Lisa 1s produced and shipped was greatly reduced, making this a rare and important piece of a revolutionary moment in Apple and computing history. Isaacson, Walter. Steve Jobs, 2011. NOTICE TO BIDDERS This lot is being offered as an antique and collectible only. Electronic or mechanical items or parts, and any software or hardware, are being sold for their artistic, historical or cultural interest, and may not operate or comply with current requirements or technical standards. This means, among other things, that the lot may no longer be operational or fit for its original purpose. Bonhams and the consignor expressly disclaim all warranties, whether express or implied, including but not limited to any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or the continuous, uninterrupted, error-free, virus-free, or secure access to or operation of the software or hardware comprising the lot, and the accuracy or completeness of any content or data included with or accessed by using the software or hardware. There are no express or implied warranties that the copying, disclosure, publication, use, commercial use, or sale of the content or data included with or accessed by using the lot, will not violate or infringe any patent, copyright, trademark or other proprietary, personal or consumer rights. Please refer to the Conditions of Sale and in particular the section entitled 'Limitation of Liability' and the disclaimers of warranties therein. Except as may be expressly provided otherwise, all property is offered and sold 'AS IS.' The foregoing is in addition to and does not limit the terms set forth in the Conditions of Sale with respect to this lot. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing