"Everything done legally - and Microsoft hasn't "taken" anything from Apple.
Except that Apple took what Xerox showed them (in 16 hours with no code) and built upon that and built and built."
No, they did'nt, and it's well documented. Apple's GUI was already mostly done, the major parts worked out by the Mac team, who documented their work.
Try using and actual Alto, and a first Gen Mac, and you'll see how flat out wrong you are. Then read the material avaiable about the development of the Alto and the Mac, and the people involved, and then say Apple "stole" anything.
It's simply not true, and you make yourself a bigger fool every time you spout off about it.
Even the Apple people quoted in post 86 of this thread aren't sure how much came from Xerox and how much was their own invention - yet you are positive it all came from Apple. Well, good for you. Xerox obviously took another position, which is why they sued, even if they did eventually lose. If you want to believe that Steve Jobs invented the universe, go ahead. Some of us know different.
I agree about the Mac (and Lisa) GUI not resembling the Alto. There was a more superficial resemblance to the Xerox Star, but Apple added a lot of original concepts and refinements.
The real pioneers of the modern user interface were Vannevar Bush, Douglas Englebart and Ted Nelson, in my opinion. Everybody was influenced by them.
It would be a first for me, hotshot.
It's simply not true, and you make yourself a bigger fool every time you spout off about it.
Okay, now I understand the phrase "spout off" because I have seen you in action.
Sober up or come down and then reread the thread. Then tell me why you're so apoplectic about what I said.