Computer History Museum Releases Apple Lisa Source Code on 40th Launch Anniversary

I couldn't resist this stroll down memory lane and had to pull my Mac SE out of storage... Can't believe the damned thing still runs after 35 years! I've owned it since Fall of 1987. In fact the oldest files I can find in my archives is from a Pascal programming class, March of 1988.

Obviously, it doesn't get any use anymore. But was last in regular use around 2003-2004 when I had it set up in a small local coffee shop/bakery. I wrote a couple of HyperCard stacks to implement a Gift Card system and Customer Order Tracking system. It ran for about 6 months before I replaced it with a cheap iMac running a web based version of those systems. (The poor SE was getting beat up and dirty as hell.)

As you can see in the 2nd photo, it started out as a 1MB, two 800K floppy system. Was first upgraded to an FDHD system, which replaced the controller chip and floppy drives with HD versions (US$500), then upgraded RAM to 4MB (US$600), then replaced one floppy drive with an internal 45MB HD (US$800), and finally installed an ethernet card after I bought my first iMac so I could use the SE as a file and print sever.

They don't make them like that anymore. Although my 2009 iMac is still chugging along just fine.

*If you look at the second photo, you can see how much the color of the case has changed over the years. The transparent sticker with all the computer info has protected the plastic underneath.

Oh man-- please someone release a Lisa simulator for Mac!

Also, the Lisa gave Kevin Costner his start…

An impressive piece of tech for 1983 but way too expensive. Basically, it's a $30,000 computer.


Does anyone know what would be a Trade-In value for Apple Lisa at an Apple store or Apple.com?

Just refreshed my memory by looking at the hardware specs - 5 MHz 68000 processor and 1 MB of RAM, 9-inch monochrome display, housed in a hefty 48 lbs package.

Just think how much more powerful and tiny your iPhone is compared to this thing, 40 years apart.

HUGE fan of the computer history museum, do yourself a favor and swing by if you're ever in NorCal