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Jef Raskin - Developer of Apple Macintosh, Is Dead

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  • Jef Raskin - Developer of Apple Macintosh, Is Dead

    Jef Raskin, a computer technology pioneer who started the team that created the Macintosh computer, died Saturday at his home in Pacifica, Calif., at age 61. The cause was pancreatic cancer, said his wife, Linda Blum.

    Mr. Raskin, who named the Macintosh after his favorite apple but altered the spelling for copyright reasons, played a significant role in transforming computers into friendlier machines, helping to catapult them into the commercial sphere. As the 31st employee at Apple Computer, Mr. Raskin advocated forcefully for the company to develop a computer that was easy for people to use, and he headed the Macintosh project starting in 1979.

    "At that time, computers were for nerds," said Bill Atkinson, a software designer who Mr. Raskin recruited to work at Apple in 1978. "You had to be some kind of geek to even want to use a computer. He wanted to make them more usable and friendly to people who weren't geeks."

    Mr. Raskin left Apple in 1982 after his relationship with Steve Jobs, the company's co-founder, soured. But he is credited with providing the vision for the Macintosh, the highly accessible and affordable computer that hit stores in 1984.

    "He really spent his life urging a degree of simplicity where computers would be not only easy to use but delightful," said Steven Levy, a technology writer and the author of "Insanely Great," a history of the Macintosh computer.

    By almost any measure, Mr. Raskin was a Renaissance man. He was an accomplished musician, composer, conductor and painter, as well as a mathematician, book author and model airplane designer.

    Born in New York City, Mr. Raskin studied mathematics and philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, graduating in 1965. He earned a master's degree in computer science at Pennsylvania State University in 1967. His first computer program, a music program, was part of his master's thesis.

    Mr. Raskin entered a graduate music program at the University of California at San Diego, but stopped to teach art, photography and computer science there, working as an assistant professor from 1970 until 1974.

    Jef Raskin, computer technology pioneer who started team that created Macintosh computer, dies at age 61; photo; Raskin named Macintosh after his favorite apple; he left company after relationship with Steve Jobs soured (M)
    - The baby will be back -

  • #2
    By almost any measure, Mr. Raskin was a Renaissance man. He was an accomplished musician, composer, conductor and painter, as well as a mathematician, book author and model airplane designer.
    This is the kind of person whom I admire the most. May he rest in peace

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    • #3
      Originally posted by babypurin
      By almost any measure, Mr. Raskin was a Renaissance man. He was an accomplished musician, composer, conductor and painter, as well as a mathematician, book author and model airplane designer.
      We can say he lived his life to the fullest. Good for him on his lifes acomplishments. Its sad about his death.
      Fly Delta Jets!

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      • #4
        Sad...may he rest in peace
        ***My Blog***

        Comment


        • #5
          Rip
          You've got to try to find what's right before your eyes-Finger Eleven


          Comment


          • #6
            Does this mean Apple Computers will finally cease to exist? PLEASE?!

            Chris

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            • #7
              Originally posted by StifflerClause
              Does this mean Apple Computers will finally cease to exist? PLEASE?!

              Chris
              Sadly, No.
              - The baby will be back -

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              • #8
                No more MAC?
                Irfan Faiz Nazerollnizam. Computer geek and gamer

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                • #9
                  RIP Jef and thanks for the Mac!

                  I see that there a few anti-Mac comments here. Any of you clowns ever really sat down at a Mac with an open mind or are you like most of the Mac 'hatin' crowd , just talkin out your ass?

                  Aldo

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by fjki98
                    No more MAC?
                    im sorry, but if you botherd to read what was above, YES mac will unfortunatly still be around.

                    RIP buddy, Thanks for some computing inovasions.
                    -Kevin

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by kaddyuk
                      FYI, apple make darn good computers!
                      Hell yes...
                      It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by kaddyuk
                        FYI, apple make darn good computers!
                        Amen, but there is lack of software for them, unless you goto one of there fine, sanitary mac stores. I have never seen a Mac freeze in my life, never the less, I have never seen a Amiga freeze until one stormy night at 5:00AM....
                        -Kevin

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by StifflerClause
                          Does this mean Apple Computers will finally cease to exist? PLEASE?!

                          Chris
                          Just sit in front of a Mac if you have a chance, and you'll think about what you said for sure

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