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Dvorak: ‘I personally do not like the Mac; Windows Vista’s ‘Mac-like’ qualities may spell its doom’
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 04:44 PM EDT

"The one curious aspect of [Microsoft's Windows] Vista, which may also spell its doom and mark the end of the road for the most popular OS in the history of the world, is its newest Mac-like qualities. This phenomenon I find quite fascinating," John C. Dvorak foments for PC Magazine.

Dvorak foments, "From what I can tell, the Mac community likes Vista more than the PC community. Apparently, in its quest to emulate what Apple does on the Mac—as if it's the holy grail of computers—Microsoft has given up on what makes a PC unique. (And I don't mean the blue screen of death.) There is something about Vista that has crossed over to the right brain—the realm of the Mac."

"When it comes to the Apple-versus-PC battle, one oft-neglected discussion is that the majority of people do not like Macs. Get over it, it's true. Hence, Apple's market share is low. There is no other explanation, although price has always been the rationale. Now it looks as if there is more to it than price. I, personally, do not like the Mac—snappy response aside—of the way it feels when saving files. I know this is silly, but I've never felt comfortable with it. It was mushy in some weird way that always gave me the creeps. I always felt that if something weird happened on a Mac I would never be able to recover a file. I've never felt that way with a PC. I figured that with a PC, I could take the hard disk out and easily put it into another machine and then go exploring the drive without worry," Dvorak foments.

Dvorak foments, "This is a minor thing to people who would be fearful of removing a hard disk, and that, to me, would be a typical art director at an ad agency who used a Mac. He's buying the machine because it looks good and he/she likes the way it feels."

Dvorak foments, "And there is the much-discussed odd nature of the fringe Mac users who are cultlike and often psycho in their behavior: They see the machine as an extension of themselves and defend it from criticism with an unpleasant vehemence. They represent the worst kind of irrational right-brainers. Who needs to associate with people like that?"

Full mess, Think Before You Click™, here.

MacDailyNews Take: Questions abound:
• Which "Mac community," exactly, likes Windows Vista more than "the PC community?"
• If the Mac isn't "the holy grail of computers," what is, John? Windows XP? Some obscure Linux distro? Kaypro, you old fool?
• Perhaps the majority of people do not like Macs because they have no idea what a Mac is or what they're missing? Or because they believe garbage from the likes of Dvorak?
• Why do those who use both Mac and Windows overwhelmingly choose Macs? Get over it, it's true.
• Who would've guessed that John C. Dvorak, personally, does not like the Mac? You know, because it's "mushy in some weird way."
• You can't take a hard disk out of a Mac Pro, easily put it into another Mac Pro, and then go exploring the drive without worry? Of course you can - and easier than with any Windows PC, too.
• Why does Dvorak pretend that people buy Macs because they look good? The answer is in the video included below.
• The only one who's "psycho in their behavior" is the man technology long ago passed by: John C. Dvorak. Why else would he not want to "associate with people like that" while continuing to bait them for decades with his badly written slop?
• Does PC Magazine really need to stoop so low for hits as to employ an empty-headed blowhard who has admitted on tape (see below) to baiting Mac users in a desperate quest for hits?
• Besides just sounding old, John's really looking old. What legacy will John C. Dvorak leave besides a closetful of bad shirts, the reputation of a weasel, and reams upon reams of worthless sniping?

John Dvorak admits to baiting Mac users in desperate attempts to generate traffic for his junk:


Related articles:
Dvorak on Apple iPhone, Steve Jobs, Ballmer, Transcendental Meditation, and more - January 17, 2007
Dvorak on Apple iPhone: ‘I think Apple can do wrong and I think this is it’ - January 13, 2007
Apple sells 450,000 of Dvorak’s ‘nutty’ Nike+iPod Sport Kits in under three months - September 13, 2006
Dvorak tries damage control - June 20, 2006
Video: Dvorak admits to baiting Apple Mac users for hits - June 10, 2006
Dvorak thinks iPod+Nike Sport Kit is ‘nutty’ - May 24, 2006

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Jan 24, 07 - 06:31 pm Comment from: Mr. Peabody

It takes years of long practice to be able to speak out of your mouth and butt at the same time.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:36 pm Comment from: scottm4321

Why waste time commenting on this guy??? Ooops, I just did, damn!

Jan 24, 07 - 06:39 pm Comment from: Spark

HEY, MDN! I used to own a Kaypro! Leave them out of Dvoraks psychosis.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:40 pm Comment from: Macnut

I personally will not agree on whatever this OLD guy is saying about computer. Any computer.
I mean.. he must have experienced a lot of MS DOS or even older OS. Of course, he would not feel comfortable with Mac OS with all the beauty and user friendly interface.
Now, people would be very stupid to believe his article or whatever is good or not good for him.
There is a reason why people are so in love with Mac, and hate MS Windows.
Whatever the reason is, i am sure it is not because they listen to an old and close-minded columnist like him.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:49 pm Comment from: ndelc

"I, personally, do not like the Mac—snappy response aside—of the way it feels when saving files. I know this is silly, but I've never felt comfortable with it. It was mushy in some weird way that always gave me the creeps. I always felt that if something weird happened on a Mac I would never be able to recover a file. I've never felt that way with a PC. I figured that with a PC, I could take the hard disk out and easily put it into another machine and then go exploring the drive without worry,"
If you use a Mac, you don't have to worry about it."

Wow! What strange comment! He'd have been better off just saying he didn't like Macs, but not giving some weird, abstract reason that makes me wonder if he's currently using narcotics. Taking a hard drive out of Mac is not a big deal - especially a Power Mac or Mac Pro. The beauty is, you'll probably never need to. His comment is like saying, "I always felt that if my car all of a sudden defied gravity and started flying, I wouldn't be able to control it." OK, well yeah, but that's not likely to happen.

I also thought his comment about right brain art directors was priceless! Because writers aren't creative people, are they John? Oh, you know what? Actually, most are. Just not you!

Please don't give him any hits. Unless you see him in person that is.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:51 pm Comment from: ldm

In a backwards way, he is right. Most people have heard that Macs are better but continue on with the "devil they know", namely Windows XP. Since Vista is more Maclike they may figure they will have to learn a lot of new stuff anyway so they may as well have the real thing.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:52 pm Comment from: WHATever

That was not his keyboard.... Learn the facts -

Jan 24, 07 - 06:52 pm Comment from: R

He's got to be kidding. Or eating lead paint chips.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:54 pm Comment from: doc

didn't used to write for MacWorld or MacUser???? c'mon.....he just wanted some Email, dont hit on his website....what a pud

Jan 24, 07 - 06:57 pm Comment from: Matt

Hillary Clinton uses Viagra for underage sex tours in the Dominican Republic??? Wow, I knew she was bad, but...

Jan 24, 07 - 06:57 pm Comment from: architoids

Because he has nothing of substance to add to the conversation, he's just making comments to dis-stinkuish himself from other "journalists." But, what he says still stinks.

Jan 24, 07 - 06:58 pm Comment from: megame

Who is Dvorak?

Seriously.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:06 pm Comment from: architoids

megame:
Q: "Who is Dvorak? Seriously."


A?: a cranky man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dvorak

Jan 24, 07 - 07:06 pm Comment from: shane blyth

dvorak is a known Apple Baiter
He openly admits he write columns to get reactions from Apple users and lets face it in his line of work that means he gets lots of press like this and makes more money

so just ignore him and his game wont work
he loves to get your back up

Just say.. John who .. ?

Jan 24, 07 - 07:12 pm Comment from: Rob Enderle

This guy Dvorak makes me sound reasonable...

Jan 24, 07 - 07:13 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

DvORaK = DORK

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Jan 24, 07 - 07:16 pm Comment from: January 24, 1984

Bait back!

When I figure out how, I'll let you all know. Everyone has a vulnerability.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:17 pm Comment from: Famous Grouse

Perhaps he'd be more comfortable with the unix command line - oops wait, the Mac OS X is the most prolific unix OS ever seen.

Personally, PeeCees always gave me the creeps when saving files - you never knew what obscure subdiretory they would end up in or if the machine could save the file without crashing.

Overall, a very trollish commentary.

However, I think he has a valid criticism of Office '07 and perhaps vista as well, whcih seem to rely on pictograph icons for everything - but this is a microsoft trend - the Apple UI relies on clearly labelled menus with shortcut keys and actually give you a way to learn the shortcuts, whereas the MS way seems to be to give you a bunch of obscure little pictures and let you dope it out for yourself. Anyone who's had to use the headers and footers toolbar in MS Word knows what I'm talking about. If this is what he's criticizing, he's correct to criticize but clueless as to the origin of the problem, which is, once again, Redmond.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:26 pm Comment from: leodavinci

John C. Dvorak is just another person with an opinion. Not much of one, but at least it's his.

It's just sad and pathetic, really.

More and more, Dvorak sounds like the tech world's version of Ellsworth Toohey.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:31 pm Comment from: Crabs

Ok, so I have two PowerMac G4s (only one running), and having had to switch hard drives back and forth between them in order to get one of them running (they were both sans memory and operating system when i bought them, university overstock store), i can tell you it's ridiculously easy to switch a hard drive in between Macs, even on older ones, not just the new Mac Pros. Having also had to remove hard drives from PCs, I can tell you it's the exact opposite. It's a pain in the butt to do, starting with opening the box, which requires you to get a screwdriver into hard to reach places, while my G4, all i have to do is pull a latch, and BLAMO it's open. Dvorak's obviously just baiting again. Moron.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:31 pm Comment from: flappo

he's a typical critic

those who can , DO

those who can't , criticise

'nuff said

Jan 24, 07 - 07:38 pm Comment from: Tom

In the grand scheme of our amazing and beautiful universe, Dvorak's personal likes and dislikes are no more relevant than mine. Moving on...

Oh, and by the way, I personally do not like more than 3 brussels sprouts with any single meal.

Not that it matters, mind you.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:41 pm Comment from: dialtone

All of the above -- but hey, let's not pick on people because of their age. "Stuck in the past" or "outdated thinking" -- fine. Smart & Hip are not the exclusive domain of the young.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:41 pm Comment from: Podster

Why do so many fools take "prevalent" to mean "popular"?

Microsoft is prevalent, not popular, by virtue of it being licensed for more than one hardware manufacturer, and various bullying backroom dealings, period.

Podster: "I personally do not like Dvorak; his ‘Mac-hating’ qualities may spell his doom’

Jan 24, 07 - 07:49 pm Comment from: Tempus Fugit

that is the most, repeat, most blatant, pathetic attempt at flame-baiting that i have ever seen in my entire life. and the sad fact is... some poor pathetic Mac using sucker, albeit with good intentions in an attempt to correct or understandably berate the "dork", will take the bait... and in so doing will put food on Dvoraks table for another day.

i've had it with this sonovabitch... (that's right his momma was a bitch, there i said it) and from this point forward refuse to read one word of his drivel and bile. if he had a legit criticism that would be one thing but this, this is simply trolling, no- whoring for hits in the most obvious way.

times like this, i really miss Tera Patricks.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:50 pm Comment from: UH OH

Dvorak is right. So far, I've seen nothing here posted to refute what he said, other than the usual Mac vitriol and hate-filled insults.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:51 pm Comment from: Jerk Face

I pray every night, to the Lollypop God, that Dvorak gets riddled with anal cancer. I really hate this jerk face.

Jan 24, 07 - 07:54 pm Comment from: Bartsimpsonhead

That heading should read

'Windows Vista’s ‘Windows Vista-like’ qualities may spell its doom’

Jan 24, 07 - 08:01 pm Comment from: UH OH

Most of you guys on this board are the equivalent of the lunatic extremist fringe of Islam, only you pray to some line of code instead. Holy moly.

Jan 24, 07 - 08:03 pm Comment from: DudeMac

Dvorak is phishing for web hits, no need to send nasty emails his way. Heck, most people I talk to don't like Windows, but they also think that they don't have a choice but to use it because they lack good computer using skills or they think it's a safe bet for them for just getting by.

Jan 24, 07 - 08:07 pm Comment from: Qka

The definitive statement on J.D. -

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/357.html

Jan 24, 07 - 08:12 pm Comment from: Connor MacBook

For something he hates, he sure spends a lot of column centimeters on it! Any publicity is good publicity.

Jan 24, 07 - 08:16 pm Comment from: Freddy the Pig

To use the idiots own words:

"And there is the much-discussed odd nature of the fringe Dvorak lovers who are cultlike and often psycho in their behavior: They see the "Dvork" as an extension of themselves and defend it from criticism with an unpleasant vehemence. They represent the worst kind of irrational no-brainers. Who needs to associate with people like that?

Jan 24, 07 - 08:24 pm Comment from: Tempus Fugit

looks like "UH OH" is doing a little baiting of his own...

Jan 24, 07 - 08:38 pm Comment from: UH OH

You guys purport to really hate this guy, and yet you REALLY seem to care about what he thinks. WHY?!

This is hilarious.

Jan 24, 07 - 08:44 pm Comment from: lbuschjr

So how many people do you know who take a hard drive out of one computer and put it into another? Didn't the new computer come with a hard drive, and usually a larger and faster hard drive?

The only reason I have ever taken a hard drive out of any computer was to replace it with a larger hard drive.

"Gee, if I wanted to take the fan out of my Mac and put it into another Mac, I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing it."

BTW, aren't Macs far easier to access the internals and add RAM to than PCs?

I'm in a networking group with a guy who builds and services Windows computers. He told me that I made a smart choice in going Mac because he just gets sick of dealing with all the malware on the PC side. And this is from a guy who would lose his house if he couldn't build and sell PCs!

Of course, he also services them, and even has a new remote anti-virus software service for his customers.

Jan 24, 07 - 08:46 pm Comment from: lbuschjr

BTW, your typical accountant, attorney, doctor, secretary, purchasing manager, sales person, manager, office employee, and pretty much any other typical computer user would not feel comfortable yanking a hard drive out of ANY computer and putting it into another.

Lots of grandparents swap hard drives, I'm sure.

What an arse.

Please don't give this guy any hits on his website!

Jan 24, 07 - 08:55 pm Comment from: gadget

Dont even give him a hit...he is just baiting us

Jan 24, 07 - 09:01 pm Comment from: Evgeny

MDN keeps writing about Dvorak cause it creates a lot of hits for MDN...

Jan 24, 07 - 09:08 pm Comment from: Nikos

I cannot believe this guy!!!
I aso cant understand why Leo Laporte insists on having him on as a guest on his Podcasts.

Jan 24, 07 - 09:10 pm Comment from: Nikos

The guy is a joke.
I cannot understand why Leo Laporte insists on having this clown on a guest on his Podcasts.

Jan 24, 07 - 09:10 pm Comment from: feedback geek

whatever he says, he just wanna pull more audience to click on his link. Don't be baited.

Jan 24, 07 - 09:13 pm Comment from: Dead Dingo's Donger

@ UH OH

What is your point?

Jan 24, 07 - 09:13 pm Comment from: GmanMac

You know all that pap about Macs aside, he made some interesting points about Linux.

IBM Intel & HP banding together and jumping onboard Linux along with Adobe porting apps to Linux could well be a major blow to Microshaft ( and possibly a minor one to Apple)

Jan 24, 07 - 09:16 pm Comment from: Mark

He's baiting.

What an ass...

Jan 24, 07 - 09:19 pm Comment from: Sheridan

Other than his opinions on the Mac I think he's right on pretty much eveything else tech wise. Love his podcast Cranky Geeks.
sarcasm
He does(http://www.dvorak.org/blog/) say (http://www.dvorak.org/blog/) his website address (http://www.dvorak.org/blog/) too(http://www.dvorak.org/blog/)much(http://www.dvorak.org/blog/)
/sarcasm

Jan 24, 07 - 09:22 pm Comment from: Jow Blow, the man

Dorkass' very first sentence is rather curious to me. He states:
The one curious aspect of [Microsoft's Windows] Vista, which may also spell its doom and mark the end of the road for the most popular OS in the history of the world, is its newest Mac-like qualities."

CURIOUS? What is curious to him about M$ copying Macintosh? That is all they have ever done!

Jan 24, 07 - 09:27 pm Comment from: Joe Blow's brother

Ah, but maybe dorkass is just giving microsoft an out. He is already blaming someone else (Apple Macintosh) for the demise of Vista as he states "...may also spell its {Vista's} doom and mark the end of the road for the most popular OS in the history of the world..."
Very telling!

Jan 24, 07 - 09:31 pm Comment from: MONKEYBOY

" I know this is silly, but I've never felt comfortable with it. It was mushy in some weird way that always gave me the creeps."

Good grief, is he describing the inner workings of his own mind?..........

Jan 24, 07 - 09:44 pm Comment from: ANTI-TROLLER

I ain't giving a single click to Dvorak's ad sponsers.

Jan 24, 07 - 09:54 pm Comment from: not fooled

Seriously, did Dvorak have a nervous breakdown or something?

This article is WAY off into the giggle weeds, even for him. Talk about psychotic behavior.

This is the classic wreathing of someone who knows they're on the wrong side of history, yet can't bring themselves out to admit it. So instead of anything meaningful we get personal insults. Poor John has massive internal conflict, and this is just the smoke rolling out.

Pay no attention to the bum. He'll either be using Mac or weaving baskets within six months.

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