On April 27th, 1981, XEROX introduced the XEROX Star 8010 Information System. The Star was revolutionary, as it was the first commercial personal computer to feature a graphical user interface and a computer mouse: two technologies that were made famous by Apple in 1984 with the release of the Macintosh. Developed at the Systems Development Department in El Segundo and heavily influenced by the experimental Xerox Alto from PARC, the Star popularized the idea that a computer screen could mimic a physical desk with documents and filing cabinets. Despite all its visionary features, the Star was a commercial failure. Priced at a staggering $16,595 (over $55,000 today), it only sold about 25,000 units.
