12/12/2006
1984 Apple LISA Demo
Want a good laugh? This video clip from a local cable show has a rare demonstration of Apple's 1984 Lisa computer as well as some sexy 1980s hair styles. In the video, some guy named Alfred takes the $10,000 Lisa computer for a test drive. Yep the Lisa sold for $10,000. Pretty expensive for a clunky word processor. In case you are wondering, the Lisa would cost about $19,500 in 2006 dollars. Another funny thing about the video is the TV host. For some reason she talks like a robot. She's also wearing a pair of over-sized 1980s eye glasses that probably have more glass than an automobile windshield.Warning: There is a very long 5 minute introduction before the Lisa demo clip. Alfred, the guy giving the demonstration in the video, is now a YouTube director and loves to suck up to his subscribers. He also apologizes for his 1984 haircut, suit and a recent nose surgery. But once the actual demonstration clip starts to play, you will probably enjoy it.
If you pay close attention, you will see the cursor switch to the hour glass quite a lot. Every time Alfred opens a window or document, he has to wait several moments for the Lisa to catch up. Good thing he's such a good talker and can fill the time blabbing with the robotic female host. You can see the video here.
Highlights of the Lisa demo include such state-of-the-art innovations as the floppy disk, digital clock, calculator, graphical user interface, icons, pull down menus, and a rodent input device called 'a mouse'.
If you want to copy this video off of YouTube and save it on your hard drive, then check out this tutorial: Copy Videos Off YouTube. Enjoy!
You can also read this article on USA Today.com
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8:02 AM
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MethodShop.com
it took him 20 minutes to get his hair the way he liked it.. another 10 to find his shiny gold chain.. the least we can do is look at him for 5 min...
Very cool....I've got an Apple Lisa-1 sitting next to my..First TRS-80 Model III, Commodore PET 2001 (8K RAM), Atari 800, Apple II+, KIM-1...I keep one Lisa at work to show the newbie programmers at work what we have today existed back in 1982. The Lisa was away head of it's time (yet a huge financial failure for Apple)
- 32 bit 68000 processor (5Mhz)
- 1MB RAM (Very expensive for 1982)
- Virtual Memory and Multitasking OS
- Integrated Applications (btw it also has cut & paste)
- Screen Saver (Dimmer really)
- Intelligent Power-switch (Puts all your docs away before shutting itself off)
- Twin read heads on the 5.25 Floppy for redundancy and speed (but non-standard)
- Diagnostics in ROM
- GUI Based Operating System (Mac's QuickDraw based on Lisa)
- LisaNet networking built-in
Larry Tesler et al, you did an awesome job!
- 32 bit 68000 processor (5Mhz)
- 1MB RAM (Very expensive for 1982)
- Virtual Memory and Multitasking OS
- Integrated Applications (btw it also has cut & paste)
- Screen Saver (Dimmer really)
- Intelligent Power-switch (Puts all your docs away before shutting itself off)
- Twin read heads on the 5.25 Floppy for redundancy and speed (but non-standard)
- Diagnostics in ROM
- GUI Based Operating System (Mac's QuickDraw based on Lisa)
- LisaNet networking built-in
Larry Tesler et al, you did an awesome job!
Hey Check this out -- someone posted a video response to my Lisa video, and it shows the Xerox Alto system (ha, and no long intro)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSgOY4qIkcg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSgOY4qIkcg
[*] posted by 
: December 13, 2006 7:19 PM
: December 13, 2006 7:19 PM
That is so cool that we see period vido where someone has to explain what a mouse is and what an icon is! We take it for granted today, but these were inovations at one time. I'll disagree that this is the first time anyone had seen these things, however- Xerox had developed a similar GUI in the late 70's
BTW- it is funny that "calculator" takes about 20 seconds to open. I'm impressed that his mouse curosr moves so quickly though. Did you see the size of that 5Mb HD!?
BTW- it is funny that "calculator" takes about 20 seconds to open. I'm impressed that his mouse curosr moves so quickly though. Did you see the size of that 5Mb HD!?
Hello - this is Alfred. Thank you, and sorry for the long intro (it was meant for my youtube subscribers, which is very community-centric). I will post another version of the Lisa demo with a very short intro, and you can re-post it, if you like.
Now, I thought you would like these two NEW videos. I used to be an Apple Computer dealer from 1978 to 1988. I warehoused a lot of 'junk' -- these two videos are my first two trips to my offiste storage facility. I pull out a mix of crap, including some Apple stuff.
It's done in my youtube style, with my jokes integrated into the video. If you have some time, give them a view -- I'm sure you will get a few good laughs and see some interesting stuff!
Video: Tomb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicTxyMMWeM
Video: Tomb Raider
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhUPc_37uuQ
Thanks again!
Now, I thought you would like these two NEW videos. I used to be an Apple Computer dealer from 1978 to 1988. I warehoused a lot of 'junk' -- these two videos are my first two trips to my offiste storage facility. I pull out a mix of crap, including some Apple stuff.
It's done in my youtube style, with my jokes integrated into the video. If you have some time, give them a view -- I'm sure you will get a few good laughs and see some interesting stuff!
Video: Tomb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicTxyMMWeM
Video: Tomb Raider
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhUPc_37uuQ
Thanks again!
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