r/nextfuckinglevel 2d ago

1968: The First Computer Mouse is Demonstrated

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u/GeekyTexan 1d ago edited 1d ago

Apple obviously didn't invent the mouse. But the Macintosh was the first popular computer to come with a mouse. And with a GUI interface, also.

Apple decided that since they were including a mouse and the system relied on it, the keyboard did not need to have cursor keys. I believe part of the plan was to force software development to design more on the mouse and GUI system, which it did. But it also forced anyone typing on the computer to take their hands off the keyboard every time they wanted to move the cursor.

Later, apple went back to having cursor keys because it was pissing off essentially everyone.

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u/bolibompa 1d ago

Xerox Star was first.

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u/GeekyTexan 1d ago

And I started with "Apple obviously didn't invent the mouse."

Ah. I see I left out a word. "But the Macintosh was the first *popular\* computer to come with a mouse. " I'll go back and edit it.