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R.I.P. Loren Heiny

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The Tablet PC and mobile community and many others share a common grief today with the news that Loren Heiny has passed away. Loren was a developer and early and vocal advocate of Tablet PCs. He, and his entire family, including his sister Lora and his brother Layne, were tireless in their support and their passion. In fact, they are known to many Tableteers as the First Family of Tablet PCs. Loren was a Microsoft MVP for Tablet PCs. Loren, and his entire family, were wonderful friends of mine personally and to GottaBeMobile.

Loren had been suffering from cancer for some time now and he is finally at peace. On behalf of the GBM community I offer our prayers and warmest wishes to the Heiny family and hope they know that Loren touched many of us with his gentle soul, excellent wit, and desire to share in ways that will last as indelible memories.

R.I.P.

20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. Rob

    07/26/2010 at 8:42 am

    Loren had one of the most fascinating minds that I’ve ever engaged with. He was an idea factory and a visionary for the mobile pc space – he didn’t just think about ideas, though – he coded them and was constantly challenging the industry leaders to up their game. Loren was the person who came up with the idea for “InkShows”, as Dennis Rice and I were planning to launch GottaBeMobile.

    More than that, though, he was a tremendous friend. One of my main reasons for going to CES year after year, going to different Tablet PC events, and others, was to be around Loren and his family. Loren was a giver – a servant, and he learned that from his mom and dad. His entire family are just like him – servants to their friends, the tablet pc and touch community, and the industry. We all lost a true friend today.

  2. Sumocat

    07/26/2010 at 9:09 am

    We never met in person, something I regret, but I felt a real kinship with Loren. Our perspectives on the tablet scene were very parallel. We never collaborated on anything, but time and again, we came to the same conclusions even when coming from different directions. On the odd occasion when I disagreed with him, his logic still proved solid and usually superior. How insightful was he? He claimed the iPhone platform was moving us toward a new generation of tablets and that a big iPod touch would prove a huge success — that was two years ago. It is unfortunate he was only able to see these first steps come to fruition and won’t be here for the true next-gen Tablet PCs he dreamed would follow. Loren was truly a thinker and visionary. He and his beautiful thoughts will be missed.

  3. HG

    07/26/2010 at 10:36 am

    Prayers to his family and friends. I was lucky enough to read all his postings and follow his blogs. The community will miss Loren and now he is in a better place.

  4. Trevor Claiborne

    07/26/2010 at 10:46 am

    Many good times were shared together. Many long conversations. Many crazy ideas. You’ll be missed Loren.

  5. Chris Davies

    07/26/2010 at 12:21 pm

    A man whose opinion, judgement and wisdom helped shaped my attitude towards computing and technology, and whose enthusiasm and optimism I’ll definitely miss. We’re a good geek down today.

  6. Feralboy

    07/26/2010 at 12:33 pm

    A very sad day indeed for the entire tablet PC community. I didn’t know him personally, but followed his blog and used his software. His interests and talents were infectious and I was always eager to see what he was going to do next. May he rest in peace.

  7. Gary Harrison

    07/26/2010 at 2:21 pm

    My thoughts, sympathy and prayers go out to the entire family. Loren’s writing was one of the first I encountered as I discovered Tablet PC’s, and he left a legacy with me.

  8. GoodThings2Life

    07/26/2010 at 3:51 pm

    My thoughts and prayers go out to Loren’s family in this time of loss.

  9. Todd Landstad

    07/26/2010 at 4:36 pm

    Met Loren at PDC 2003 when he was pondering using Tablet PC’s for drawing electrical diagrams – and since had the opportunity to work with him, and to meet and get to know his fantastic family. Loren, we all will miss your creativity.

  10. Xavier Lanier

    07/26/2010 at 5:35 pm

    I never had the pleasure of meeting Loren in person, but I truly appreciate the impact he and his family have had a tremendous impact on the mobile tech community. He taught us all a great deal and will be missed.

  11. Kenrick

    07/26/2010 at 8:05 pm

    So sorry to hear about Loren’s passing. I always enjoyed his articles, software, and creative ideas. He did leave his mark on the Tablet PC and tech community at large!

  12. Steve S

    07/27/2010 at 4:22 am

    My sincere condolences to Lora, Layne and the Heiny family. Loren will be missed by all of us in the tablet community.

  13. lsbeller

    07/27/2010 at 7:23 am

    I may be wrong but I think it was Marc Orchant that coined the term “the first family of Tablet PCs.” My prayers go to Loren’s family. May he rest in peace.

    Steve

  14. Jeff Spruiel

    07/27/2010 at 5:19 pm

    My condolences goes out to the Heiny family. I have been an avid reader of gottabemobile since its inception. Loren was a huge part of the fabric that shapes this community. I enjoyed reading his opinions and thoughts and am deeply saddened.

    Though we have never met or directly communicated, R.I.P and blessings to your family.

  15. David Howard

    07/27/2010 at 6:40 pm

    I am really going to miss Loren’s insight. I have read his posts, occasionally exchanged a thought, and more recently over the last year or so exchanged messages on Twitter. I knew of his cancer, and we exchanged tweets on health care policy. Just last month he was celebrating his sister’s wedding and I sent him a congrats. I am glad he saw that, and now I know how important that must have been for him.

    Saddened… :(

  16. Modnar

    07/27/2010 at 9:55 pm

    A sad day as it was partly his ideas, software and enthusiasm that steered me to learn to code and do Software Engineering and as such I’m working in Interactive Whiteboard Company in a position I love trying to make software more accessible and useful for people :)

    May your soul rest in peace.

  17. Sharon

    07/28/2010 at 6:18 pm

    Reading Loren’s posts and blogs was one of the things that brought me into the world of tablet pc’s. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed by many who, like me, never met him in person, but only through his words.

  18. Andrew Beery

    07/29/2010 at 5:04 pm

    I pray his family draws comfort from these posts… Loren also authored several c++ graphics programming books which at various times have been on my shelves in my previous pre-pastor life. His gifts will be missed.

  19. LPH

    07/30/2010 at 9:34 pm

    Our family thanks all of you for sharing your thoughts about Loren. He was a brother, a son, an uncle, a cousin, a software developer, an inkineer, a blogger, and a gentle soul. We miss him. Family and friends from all corners of the country have started to gather to celebrate his life.

    Warm regards,
    The Heiny Family

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