After visiting Xerox PARC, Jobs saw that a point and click
graphic user interface could revolutionize computers.
Until then, it was necessary to type in complicated commands
to direct the computer. The point and click graphic user interface
allowed users to make selections by moving a pointer to onscreen
items, which would open individual windows for different docu-
ments and cause onscreen menus to pop up. Although this is
standard operating procedure today, back then it was revolution-
ary. Xerox, however, did not recognize the computer’s potential
and did not intend to market it. Jobs, on the other hand, immedi-
ately grasped the importance of the technology. He recalls, “When
I went to XEROX PARC in 1979, I saw a rudimentary graphical
user interface. It wasn’t complete. It wasn’t quite right. But within
10 minutes, it was obvious that every computer in the world
would work this way someday.” 41
Macintosh: Revolution in a Box
Jobs went back to Apple obsessed with creating a computer based
on the technology he had seen at Xerox. His first try was a com-
puter called Lisa, which was the first computer he worked on
without Wozniak’s help. He was not happy with the team work-
ing on Lisa, or with the computer, which was large and expensive.
Down but Not Out
55