The 1983 Apple Lisa Gets a Modern Remake

As the old saying goes, you don't know what you have until it's gone. Sometimes we have to step back and wait for the dust to settle before we realize how valuable something truly is. That was the case with the Apple Lisa, which was an innovative desktop computer when it first appeared in 1983. It was the first mass-market personal computer with a graphical user interface, making it much easier to use than the mainframes and minicomputers that small and medium-sized businesses otherwise relied on.

Despite the improved user experience, the Lisa was considered by many to be too expensive at over $30,000 (in inflation-adjusted dollars) for the level of performance it offered. For this reason, it sold poorly, and — if such rumors are to be believed — loads of Lisas wound up in a landfill. Now, over 40 years later, this machine is widely recognized as a pioneering system ahead of its time and is highly valued by collectors.

All of this goes to say that if you want a Lisa today, you probably can’t get one. Fortunately, you can still have an authentic experience with the LisaFPGA Project. It’s a fully functional Apple Lisa computer that was recreated with an FPGA. The project is fully open source and will be available on GitHub soon.

The project was built using an AMD Artix 7-100T FPGA, programmed to replicate the Lisa’s original logic down to its CPU and custom support chips. Instead of relying on software emulation, the design recreates hardware behavior directly, offering both authenticity and flexibility. The original Motorola 68000 processor is effectively reimplemented within the FPGA, allowing the system not only to match but exceed the original machine’s performance. Users can even overclock the system well beyond its stock speed, achieving performance several times faster than the 1980s hardware ever allowed.

A 2 MB SRAM module provides configurable memory, while a real serial communications controller chip ensures accurate peripheral behavior. Modern conveniences are also included, such as HDMI video output and USB compatibility. Built-in logic translates USB keyboard and mouse inputs into the Lisa’s proprietary protocol, letting users choose between vintage peripherals and modern devices with a simple switch.

Storage, once one of the Lisa’s biggest limitations, has also been modernized. An onboard emulator powered by an ESP32-S3 replaces the original ProFile hard drive with SD card storage, while a separate system emulates floppy disks. For purists, the board still supports connecting original drives, preserving the option for a completely authentic setup.

The LisaFPGA Project also pays careful attention to detail, recreating quirks like scanline effects for CRT-style visuals and implementing hardware switches for ROM selection and video inversion. Physical buttons for reset and interrupts mirror the original front panel controls, reinforcing the sense that this is more than a replica.

If you’d like to keep up with the latest status of the LisaFPGA Project, be sure to check back in at Hackster News for updates!