ORANGE PARK – Even if you're reading this on a Windows, it's impossible to deny the historical influence of Apple on personal computers. 

Namely, it was the Macintosh that revolutionized and popularized personal computing. The market success of the Macintosh made itself the industry standard for many years after its release, but its success also overshadowed the achievements pioneered by its predecessor – the Apple Lisa. 

David Greelish, a computer historian from Orange Park, reflected on the overlooked technical and influential achievements of the Lisa computer in a feature full-length documentary film.

"Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa" is a documentary that explored the history, technology, people, stories and industry influence of the lesser-known personal computer.

The documentary begins with Greelish's story, when he worked in an Apple store in Gainesville about 35 years ago. While working at the dealership, he unfortunately could not afford a computer of his own, even with his employee discount. 

Instead, he opted for the Lisa. The older, larger model was his first complete personal computer. 

"The Lisa was not only my first 'fully setup' computer, where I could actually use it in a practical way, but it was more importantly my first 'Mac,'" Greelish said.  "It then led to my becoming a computer tech while also leading to my fascination with computer history."

Greelish was captivated by the machine and its relative obscurity compared to the Macintosh. 

The Lisa, allegedly named after the daughter of Steve Jobs, was an ambitious project. It was one of the first computers to use a microprocessor effectively and to develop a convenient graphic user interface, including the ubiquitous mouse and keyboard. 

So why were thousands of Lisa Computers thrown in a dump in Logan, Utah in 1989 despite all these dazzling technological innovations?

Why did consumers choose the Macintosh (released in 1984) over the Lisa (released in 1983)?

What is the legacy of the Apple Lisa on personal computers today?

In his documentary, Greelish traveled across the country to seek the expert perspectives of those who created the Lisa to answer these questions and more. He interviews engineers, historians and salesmen. He interviewed John Sculley, a former CEO of Apple. 

Greelish's passion clearly spoke through his film. 

"Passion is what keeps us alive! And passion was clearly present with a lot of the personal computing pioneers. They wanted to change the world," Greelish said. 

This is Greelish's first feature full-length film since creating a mini-documentary for YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=eKPEVNlmaUg.

Your contribution will support local artists. You can find the "Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa" link on Vimeo at  vimeo.com/ondemand/beforemacintosh.