Macintosh inventor Jef Raskin passes away

[tpjunkie]

Although he left the project before completion, and his original concept of the macintosh is quite different from what finally shipped, he did provide the original idea and impetus for the creation of the macintosh


http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/5096/

[Blue Velvet]

One of the first threads I posted here at MR was about Jef Raskin... I think he died a slightly bitter man.

Still, respect is massively due.

[wordmunger]

This is a man who meant as much to the Macintosh computer as Steve Jobs. I'm sorry to hear he has died. He was still working on a major computing project, the Humane Interface, so this must have been quite sudden.

[IJ Reilly]

Wow, that's sad. I ran into Jef at MacWorld a couple of years ago. I looked over and saw the name tag and couldn't hardly believe I was standing next to a legendary Mac figure. When I introduced myself, I'll never forget, the first thing he said was, "Welcome to my expo!" Reading Bill Atkinson's book, I realize now this was a classic Jef Raskin line. We spend quite a while chatting about one thing and another (I remember him saying he didn't like the OSX user interface), and he sent me a copy of his book "The Human Interface." Somewhere around here I've got a photo I took of him that day. I'll try to locate and post it.

[Applespider]

It's a great shame for a man who really did have a vision of what computing could be. I hope the newspaper obits recognise him - although I doubt they'll give him the credit he thought deserved.

[wordmunger]

Some more info from Digital Divide Network (http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/dwarlick/view?PostID=2226).

[CrackedButter]

If they don't give him credit at least a lot of his customers know and recognise him for what he did.

How old was he anyway?

[daveL]

If they don't give him credit at least a lot of his customers know and recognise him for what he did.

How old was he anyway?
62 next month.

[rosalindavenue]

This slashdot thread (http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/05/02/27/1835231.shtml?tid=3) has a lot of good info and appreciation of Mr. Raskin.

[CrackedButter]

btw, I didn't mean his customers since he never sold anything, but I think we know what I meant.

[wdlove]

My prayers go out to his family and friends. May he find peace. Thank you Jef for all that you've done. :(

http://www.digibarn.com/friends/jef-raskin/index.html

[aafuss1]

I also send my prayers to his family and friends. He was a pioneer of the Mac and certainly will be missed.

[MacFan26]

Sad news, definately. The Joy of Tech (http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech) has also created a comic in tribute to him.