Which computer was the first to use a graphical user interface (GUI) with icons, a mouse, and a window?

The Xerox Alto is recognized as the first computer to utilize a graphical user interface (GUI) featuring icons, a mouse, and windows. Developed in the early 1970s at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center), the Alto displayed concepts that were revolutionary for its time and laid the groundwork for future GUI systems.

What set the Alto apart was its innovative approach to user interaction. Instead of relying solely on command-line inputs that were typical of earlier computers, it allowed users to interact with graphical icons and employ a mouse for navigation, which made the computing experience much more intuitive. The Alto served as a significant influence on subsequent systems, particularly the Apple Macintosh, which adopted these principles but was built on the advancements and concepts first introduced with the Xerox Alto.

The Apple Macintosh eventually brought the GUI to a wider audience, but it was the Alto that pioneered this transformative shift in how users would engage with computers, setting the stage for modern operating systems that we utilize today.