The desktop computer from Xerox that pioneered the mouse/icon/desktop environment. Developed at PARC, it was the progenitor of Xerox's Star and Apple's Lisa and Mac. Designed in 1973 with 128K RAM, 608x808 screen, 2.5MB removable hard disk and built-in Ethernet. About 1,000 Altos were in use by 1979.
Alto Computer
The first graphical user interface created for business purposes was working more than 10 years before the Macintosh was introduced. (Image courtesy of Palo Alto Research Center.)
Alto Computer
The first graphical user interface created for business purposes was working more than 10 years before the Macintosh was introduced. (Image courtesy of Palo Alto Research Center.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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