Jef Raskin, 61; conceived idea for Macintosh computer

LOS ANGELES --Jef Raskin, the software developer and renaissance man behind Apple Computer Inc.'s pioneering Macintosh personal computer, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer in his home in Pacifica, Calif. He was 61.

In 1978, Mr. Raskin joined the fledging Apple -- employee No. 31 -- and at first worked as manager of publications. He soon became head of the team developing the Macintosh computer.

Coming at a time when computers were driven by text menus and complicated commands that had to be memorized and typed, the Macintosh was the first to successfully use the now-familiar ''graphical user interface," featuring icons and windows on the computer screen and commands from a mouse.

Besides overseeing the development, Mr. Raskin is considered responsible for the machine's drag-and-drop feature. Many of the Mac's innovations were adopted by other operating systems, including Microsoft Windows.

''He always had an incredible intuition for what computers could do for people," said Mr. Raskin's son, Aza, a math and physics student at the University of Chicago. ''He'd challenge engineers who wanted to design computers around processors, and he'd say 'No, design them around people.' "

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

''Jef's dream changed the world," Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak told the San Jose Mercury News Sunday. ''Making technology work simpler, he was at the heart of that from the first days at Apple."

Wozniak said Mr. Raskin also persuaded Apple leaders to spend time at Xerox PARC to see how to develop cutting-edge technology. ''Jef Raskin is one of the most important people in personal computers, to this day," he added.

But Mr. Raskin believed that Apple cofounder Steve Jobs was muscling in on the Macintosh project, and he resigned from the company in 1982, two years before the Macintosh was released.

After leaving Apple, Mr. Raskin formed his own company, Information Appliance.

Mr. Raskin was also known as an accomplished musician and artist. He performed on the recorder, rebuilt and installed a Swiss pipe organ in his home, and taught electronic music at the University of California, San Diego.

He also created works of sculpture that reflected his sense of humor, such as a piece of glass decorated with suction-cup darts, which he called ''Objet Dart." His work has been shown at New York's Museum of Modern Art.