Bill Atkinson, an engineer who played a key role in the development of Macintosh and other Apple Landmark products, has died of pancreatic cancer.
After Atkinson’s family announced his way to FacebookWired’s Steven Levy provided An overview of the many ATKINSON accomplishments As an Apple employee number 51. In addition to the Macintosh, the Apple projects that created or contributed to including the Lisa computer, Quickdraw, the Magic Whiteboard (a precursor of the iPad) and Hypercard (a precursor to the World Wide Web).
Atkinson, 74, was passionate about nature photography, and when he was diagnosed with cancer last year, he wrote on Facebook that “he had already led to an incredible and wonderful life.”
In An AX postApple’s CEO, Tim Cook, described Atkinson as “a real visionary the creativity, heart and innovative work of the MAC will forever inspire us.” And John Gruber wrote the Daring Fireball of the Fire Ball that “without hyperbole”, Atkinson “may have been the best computer programmer he has ever experienced.”
