Apple II MouseDesk 2.0

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Apple II MouseDesk 2.0 was a computer desktop that helped manage disks and files easily. Mouse Desk shows pictures, called icons, that represent disks and files, so it's easy to see where everything is. You work with icons to copy, delete, or organize files and it speeds up selecting and running applications by clicking the application icon to start it.
If you don't have a mouse, you can still use Mouse Desk, but it's more difficult.

This is an early incarnation of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) as used on the Apple Macintosh but running on the Apple II.

This application started its life as Mouse Desk by Version Soft, a French company. The authors are Luc Barthelet, Stéphane Cavril, Bernard Gallet, Henri Lamiraux, and Richard Danais with contributions by Alexis Gerard, Jim Gerber, Pat Pahl, and Joel Bernard. International Solutions, Inc (ISI) was founded by Mark Kvamme to market the Version Soft products worldwide.

Mouse Desk Version 1.5 added Desk "Accessories" (Calculator, Date, and Puzzle) and Mouse Desk 1.6 added the Selector program for easier use of mass storage devices.

Desiring a mouse-based solution for the Apple II line, Apple Computer licensed the software and released Mouse Desk 2.0. It was also rebranded as Apple II DeskTop and released as the initial GUI interface on the Apple IIgs System Software disks, before the native 16-bit GS/OS replaced it in later versions. Some members of the Version Soft team also moved to work at Apple.

The application was developed using the MouseGraphics ToolKit by Apple, which provided the graphics primitives for drawing shapes and text to the complex double-hires graphics screen, and the windowing primitives such as events, cursors, menus, windows, scrollbars and mouse support. The library and early versions of Mouse Desk initially adhered to the Lisa interface guidelines before evolving to match the look and feel of the early Macintosh.

Also included with the disk: "Apple presents Apple".

Platform: Apple IIgs with 256Kb RAM  Disk 3.5 drive 

               OS: ProDOS           

System Software (SS:) Utility Program (UP:) Desktop

Version:  2.0



Platform : Apple II
Format : Disk 3.5
Publisher : Apple
Authors : Version Soft,
Date : 1986
Product Code :

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MacWrite • MacPaint Apple Apple Macintosh 3.5" Floppy Disk Unknown
Breakout Apple Computer Inc Apple Cassette 1978
Color Demosoft / Little Brickout Apple Apple II Cassette 1979
Alignment Test Tone / Renumber / Append Apple Apple II Cassette 1979
Penny Arcade / Finance 1 Apple Apple II Cassette 1979
Apple Post Mailing List System Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1979
Hand-Holding BASIC Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1980
Apple II DOS 3.3 BASICS Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1980
Apple PILOT Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1980
Apple II Application Software - Set of Disks Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1981
Visicalc III Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1981
Apple Business BASIC Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1981
Universal Parallel Interface Card Driver Software Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1981
Apple II Emulation Integer Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1981
Visicalc III Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1981
Apple Access III Apple Apple III Disk 5.25 1981
Mail List Manager Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1981
Apple II DOS 3.3 Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1982
Apple II Monitor ROM Listings Apple Apple II ROM 1982
Apple II ProDOS Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1982
Apple Writer III Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1982
Apple Writer III Apple Apple III Disk 5.25 1982
Quick File III Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1982
Apple II DOS User's Manual Apple Apple II Wire Bound Paperback 1983
System Software SOS Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1983
Apple Writer III Apple Apple III 5.25" Floppy Disk 1983
Backup III Apple Apple III Disk 5.25 1983
Apple II The Inside Story - An Introduction Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1984
Appleworks IIe Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1984
Apple Lisa 7/7 Office System Apple Apple Lisa 3.5" Floppy Disk 1984
Apple II Applesoft Programmer's Kit Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1984
Macintosh System package Apple Apple Macintosh 3.5" Floppy Disk 1984
ProDOS BASIC Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1984
Icon Art Master Pineapple Software BBC Micro 5.25 Inch Disk 1985
Macintosh XL MacWorks XL Apple Apple Macintosh 3.5" Floppy Disk 1985
Apple II MouseDesk 2.0 Apple Apple II Disk 3.5 1986
Macintosh Plus Apple Apple Mac Compact Disk 3.5 1986
Macintosh Plus - A Guided Tour Apple Apple Macintosh Cassette 1986
P.C.B. Pineapple Software BBC Micro 5.25 Disk 1986
Apple II DOS 3.3 - Set of Disks Apple Apple II Disk 5.25 1987
Apple HyperCard Apple Apple Mac Compact Disk 3.5 1987
Macintosh HyperCard 1.0 Apple Apple Mac Compact Disk 3.5 1987
Diagram II Pineapple Software BBC Micro 5.25 Disk 1988
Learn To Use HyperCard 1: Beginning HyperCard Apple Apple Mac Compact Disk 3.5 1989
Learn To Use HyperCard 2: Scripting with HyperTalk Apple Apple Mac Compact Disk 3.5 1989
Macintosh System 7 Personal Upgrade Apple Apple Power Macintosh Disk 3.5 1991
Quicktime 1.5 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1992
The Virtual Museum Apple Apple Macintosh CD-ROM 1992
Apple Media Tool Apple Apple Mac Compact CD-ROM 1993
SADE v. 1.3.3 Apple Apple Mac Compact Disk 3.5 1993
Multimedia in Action Apple Apple Mac Compact CD-ROM Nov 1993
eWorld Apple Apple Macintosh 3.5" Floppy Disk 1994
ClarisDraw Apple Apple Macintosh 3.5" Disk 1994
Mac OS System 7.5 Apple Apple PowerBook Disk 3.5 1994
ARPLE Supplement January 1994 Apple Apple Macintosh CD-ROM Jan 1994
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Partner Edition, April 1994. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Apr 1994
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Special Edition Power Macintosh, May 1994. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM May 1994
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Partner Edition, July 1994. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jul 1994
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Supplement, September 1994. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Sep 1994
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, October 1994. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Oct 1994
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Special Edition Power Macintosh Version 2.0, November 1994. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Nov 1994
Inside Macintosh Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1995
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Partner Edition, January 1995. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jan 1995
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Supplement, February 1995. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Feb 1995
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Supplement, March 1995. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Mar 1995
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, April 1995. (case only) Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Apr 1995
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, May 1995. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM May 1995
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Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, July 1995. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jul 1995
Apple Marketing MediaAlbum CD-ROM Collection Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1996
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Mac OS System 7.6 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1996
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, Sptember 1996. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Sep 1996
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, October 1996. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Oct 1996
ARPLE November 1996 Provider Edition Apple Apple Macintosh CD-ROM Nov 1996
Apple Computer Europe — Consumer In-store Demo — Spring 1997 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, January 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jan 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, February 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Feb 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, March 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Mar 1997
Apple Service Source CD 2.0 March 1997 Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Mar 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, May 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM May 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, June 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jun 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, July 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jul 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, August 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Aug 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, October 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Oct 1997
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, November 1997. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Nov 1997
Apple Dealer CDs and DVDs, 1990s Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1998
QuickTime Attract Loop Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1998
Apple Display Software Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 1998
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, January 1998. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Jan 1998
Apple Reference, Performance & Learning Expert. Provider Edition, February 1998. Apple Apple Macintosh Performa CD-ROM Feb 1998
Apple iMac System Restore Apple Apple iMac CD-ROM 1999
Mac OS X Versions 10.1.3/10.2/10.3 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 2002
Mac OS X Version 10.2 Jaguar Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD ROM 2002
AppleCare Protection Plan Apple Apple CD-Rom 2002
AppleWorks 6 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 2003
Mac OS X Panther Version 10.3 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM Oct 2003
Aperture Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM 2005
iLife '06 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM, DVD-ROM 2005
iLife '05 Apple Apple Power Macintosh CD-ROM, DVD-ROM 2005
Mac OS X Tiger Version 10.4 Apple Apple Macintosh DVD-ROM Sep 2005
Mac OS X Leopard Version 10.5 Apple Apple Power Macintosh DVD-ROM 2007
iLife '08 (Family Pack) Apple Apple Macintosh DVD 2008
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iWork ('09) Apple Apple Macintosh DVD 2009

Information About Apple:

Item Manufacturer Date
Apple Computer Inc. 1 Apr 1976

 

 

 

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH66079. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.
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