"Every minute I spend writing this email is another minute you will spend waiting for the response, and a minute less you will have with your friend."
Edit: typos
I concluded that it was not arrogance or a lack of empathy but rather that their time had gotten constrained. If they wanted to preserve themselves for other things than email, they HAD to email like this.
If I had received this reply, I would have been thrilled too. Probably more thrilled to receive some other comment, but I wouldn't have been miffed by the terseness.
Of course, as with everyone else's opinions... this is 100% speculation.
I have the same like-or-hate reaction, though for a different reason: This sort of thing encourages the irrational hero worship that Jobs fostered while he was alive and that's only grown in some circles after his death. Yes, this story shows that he did something good for someone. Once. And I'm sure there are other similar anecdotes. But the takeaway here will not be "this is something that Steve Jobs did that was nice," it will be "OH WOW STEVE JOBS WAS A SAINT."
And that, sir, is what we call the fundamental attribution error. But I feel it applies more to everyone than just Jobs. If you showcase a positive action, it'll be assumed as part of a personality. And I seriously doubt anyone would be spreading bad things about Steve Jobs, because he actually was very intelligent and all that lot. The only person I'm aware who was appreciated during life and hated afterwards is Edison, and that's only 100 years after the fact.
But... what... show iPad to dying friend?
It has always been this way. Humans like physical objects. Maybe your particular love is art. My Grandmother's was salt and pepper shakers. Some people love bikes.
Things with motion or reactions tend to grab more attention. Computers were amazing in this regard. The iPad and other touch tablets really blow the doors off. Sit down and talk to a car or motorcycle guy/girl about the time they got it working when no one thought they could....
I'm actually quite happy with it. It drives those people to build better things or use them in ways others haven't thought of. It drives us.
// these days, Steve Jobs's response is probably the best I could do, anything added would just sound wrong
To be able to experience a new invention so far before everyone else on that planet is a special experience. At least, I'd see it that way were I in her friend's shoes.
Jobs didn't need to respond if he thought it was a waste of time and/or didn't care. He simply needed to give approval - not much else needed to be said.