The Mac user interface was inspired by some concepts at Xerox PARC (and Stanford and other places), but the look-and-feel of the Mac GUI was substantially different from the Alto and Star, including a lot of Apple innovations like desk ornaments.
In contrast, Microsoft shamelessly attempts to copy the look-and-feel of Apple's user interface technologies. The Windows 7 demo probably infringes on some of Apple's patents.
They might, and if so should face consequence, but if anyone is ripping anyone off these days, it's Linux. Most of those publishers don't even believe in patents, and many of their surrogates are making near exact copies of OSX and even Windows. Mac4Lin is one of many.
While the look and feel of the Mac interface is different from the PARC model, the Mac's predecessor's (Lisa) interface was not. Not to mention that PARC is where the whole idea of a mouse-driven interface originated.
I always like to hear folks talk about how innovative and fast Apple's early OS was.
What is never mentioned is that you had to have a lot of memory because Apple recommended that virtual memory be turned off to speed up the system. When virtual memory was turned on, the so-called speedy Mac suddenly slowed to a crawl.
Ever get an out of memory error on a Mac? Ever had to close an app to cure an out of memory condition? Since the Mac OS lacked memory protection, a memory error usually took down the entire system. It took Apple 13 years to fix this little 'feature'. (OS 7.6 --1997)
Of course, the Mac had it's own version of Microsoft's BSoD --the bomb icon.
And, we can't forget the force-quit, which usually meant the system locked up requiring a power-off, and disk check upon power-up.
Funny how the Apple devotees never mention these 'innovations'. Oh, sure these were fixed and later rendered moot by OSX, but they were there, nonetheless and they were there for a long, long time.
Calvin, you’re obviously not aware of the following facts:
1: Jobs was invited to check out PARC’s projects.
2: When he liked what he saw, he PAID for a license to it.
Xerox was given Apple stock in exchange for engineer visits and an understanding that Apple would create a GUI product.
Microsoft? They paid PARC nothing and only stole.