MacBirth

Overshadowed by the introduction of the iPhone, Andy Hertzfeld shared some yarns (well, truthful yarns, that is) yesterday about the birth of another revolutionary Apple product, the Macintosh. Uncharacteristically, I actually want to read the book that was the real subject of his talk. At least, I do if it has more nuggets like these:

He recalled that Raskin had not been particularly pleased by an anecdote in the book about how fellow Mac team member Burrell Smith, whom Hertzfeld said had a talent for imitations, used to mimic Raskin.

"'Why, I, I, I, I invented the Macintosh,'" Hertzfeld said, quoting Smith imitating Raskin.

He also said Smith would then mimic a reporter responding to Raskin: "'Why, no, I thought Burrell invented the Macintosh.'"

And Smith would end the joke with one final Raskin imitation: "'Why, I, I, I, I invented Burrell.'"

Clearly fond of Raskin, Hertzfeld nevertheless poked a little bit of fun at him during his talk. Hertzfeld remembered his first week at Apple Computer and how Raskin sat next to him at one point and introduced himself.

"'I'm not only a mathematical genius, but a musical genius, as well,'" Hertzfeld said Raskin told him by way of greeting. "I thought, 'What do I say to that?' So I said, 'Good for you.'"