[Deathwatch] Jef Raskin, Macintosh creator, 61

[Deathwatch Central]

Macintosh Creator Raskin Dies at 61
Monday February 28
By Matthew Fordahl, AP Technology Writer

Jef Raskin, Expert Who Created Apple's Groundbreaking Macintosh
Computer, Dies at 61

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Jef Raskin, a computer interface expert who
conceived Apple Computer Inc.'s groundbreaking Macintosh computer but
left the company before it came to market, has died. He was 61.

Raskin died Saturday night at his home in Pacifica, Calif., his family
said in a statement. In December, he told friends he had been diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer.

Raskin joined Apple in 1978 -- as its 31st employee -- to start the
young company's publications department. At the time, computers were
primarily text-based and users had to remember a series of arcane
commands to perform the simplest tasks.

In 1979, Raskin had a different idea: A computer that's priced
affordably, targeted at consumers and extremely easy to use. A small
team, under his command, was put together at Apple to pursue his
concept that would eventually become the Macintosh.

"His role on the Macintosh was the initiator of the project, so it
wouldn't be here if it weren't for him," said Andy Hertzfeld, an early
Mac team member.

Raskin, who worked as a computer science professor before joining
Apple, was well aware of the research being done in computer interfaces
at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center. He worked to bring it to the
attention of Apple executives.

"Jef was incredibly enthusiastic about what he saw at Xerox PARC," said
Dave Burstein, who is working on a film about Raskin's life.

Raskin also named the Macintosh after his favorite apple, though the
name was slightly changed because of a trademark issue with another
company.

Raskin led the project until the summer of 1981, when he had a falling
out with Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder. He left the company entirely
the following year.

"One of the biggest things I give Jef credit for was putting together
the very beginnings of the Mac team with some extraordinary people who
didn't necessarily have the credentials, but had everything else to do
something great," Hertzfeld said Sunday.

When the Mac was unveiled in 1984, it radically changed the personal
computer industry. No longer were users forced to type commands.
Instead, its interface mimicked a physical desktop with folders and
filing cabinets. Documents could be dragged from one area to another.

The final Mac, however, was priced at an unaffordable $2,495 when it
first appeared on the market and sales were disappointing after the
first few months. But the concepts behind the Mac interface quickly
found their way into other software, including Microsoft Corp.'s
Windows.

After leaving Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple, Raskin founded another
computer company, Information Appliance, and designed another computer
that incorporated his ideas. He also wrote a book, "The Humane
Interface," which was published in 2000.

Raskin continued to work on software that incorporates his ideas on
interfaces. The first release is scheduled to take place in the next
few months, Burstein said.

While best known in the computer industry, Raskin also pursued other
interests. He conducted the San Francisco Chamber Opera Society and
played three instruments. His artwork was displayed at New York's
Museum of Modern Art. He also received a patent for airplane wing
construction.

He was an accomplished archer, target shooter and occasional race car
driver, friends said.

"He believed in having fun, too," Burstein said. "The people who worked
with him at Apple talk about how important were the toys and the games
and the sense of joy that he demanded."