Lisa OS 3.1 Lisa OS 3.1

Lisa Office System 3.1: Release Details

On April 24, 1984, Apple released the Lisa Office System 3.1 (Lisa OS 3.1) to the public. Developed specifically for the Apple Lisa computer, the operating system was a revolutionary step forward in the world of computing, introducing a graphical interface that would change the way we interact with computers forever.

The Lisa OS 3.1 was based in part on elements from the Apple Sophisticated Operating System, which had been released for the Apple III just a few years prior. This allowed Apple to build upon the successes of the earlier operating system and create something truly groundbreaking with the Lisa OS 3.1.

One of the most notable features of the Lisa OS 3.1 was its support for “microdisks”, which replaced the twiggy disks of the original Lisa computer. This allowed users to store much more data on a single disk, making the Lisa OS 3.1 a much more powerful and flexible system. Additionally, the “wastebasket” was renamed to “trash”, which made it more intuitive for users to understand how to delete files.

ReleasedApril 24, 1984
System RequirementsApple Lisa
Apple Lisa 2
DistributionFloppy disk
Apple Lisa 2
Source: macstories.net – Apple Lisa 2

Other notable changes in the Lisa OS 3.1 included the addition of a “Desk” menu in the menu bar, which made it easier to switch between document windows, the introduction of LisaTerminal, and the renaming of the “View and disk” menu of the desktop manager to “Housekeeping”. These small changes helped to make the Lisa OS 3.1 a more polished and user-friendly operating system.

Today, the Lisa Office System 3.1 is 39 years old, but its legacy lives on. The graphical interface that it introduced is still the standard for nearly all operating systems today, and its innovations continue to shape the way we interact with technology. The Lisa OS 3.1 may be old, but it was truly ahead of its time.

Further Reading and References

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Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.

Last updated: March 9, 2023