A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 1
A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 2
A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 3
A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 4
A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 5
A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 6
A XEROX ALTO II XM - photo 7

A XEROX ALTO II XM

Lot 30
10.09.2024 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1279125
Lot 30 | A XEROX ALTO II XM
Estimate value
$ 10 000 – 15 000
A XEROX ALTO II XM
XEROX, 1973
Including a Xerox Alto II display, Xerox Alto II three button mouse and Xerox Alto II keyboard, a Diablo disk drive terminator model 30 and Diablo disk drive model 31 G5

The origins of GUI.

The Xerox Alto, developed in 1973 at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center), is a pioneering computer notable for its advanced graphical user interface (GUI) that included windows, icons, and menus, operated with a mouse. The Alto's design influenced many later systems, including Apple's Macintosh and Microsoft's Windows. Key features included a bitmapped display, Ethernet networking, and a mouse, making it a groundbreaking machine in the evolution of personal computing and user interface design. Despite its limited initial distribution primarily within Xerox and to a few universities, the Alto was instrumental in the development of modern computing concepts and technologies.

This Alto was acquired from Al Kossow, a notable figure in the field of computer history, particularly known for his work with the Xerox Alto. He worked extensively on preserving Alto software archives and transferring original source code to modern media formats. His efforts are crucial in maintaining the historical legacy and accessibility of the Xerox Alto.
The cabinet: 20 in. (50.8 cm.) high, 20 in. (50.8 cm.) wide, 28 in. (71.1 cm.) deep (approximately)




Provenance

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
LCM Collection.



Further details

This lot is subject to additional disclaimers. Please carefully review Section E(2), subsection (m) “Vintage Computers and Machines”.
Auction house category:All other types of objects, Instruments
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.09.2024 – 10.09.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>