“The journalism community in general—and tech journalists in particular—discourage free enterprise and real competition. They are the worst kind of bandwagon-hoppers and hero-worshippers. No wonder the public does not think highly of the profession,” John C. Dvorak writes for PC Magazine.
“This thought is triggered by the ridiculous over-coverage of the Apple iPhone in a market full of new phones that get zero coverage from these same people,” Dvorak writes.
MacDailyNews Take: Because the iPhone is a new kind of mobile computer masquerading as a phone and not cellphone, John. Because Steve Jobs changes the tech world with startling regularity, shifting paradigms like no one else ever has: Apple I, Apple II, Macintosh, NeXT Computer, Pixar, iMac, Mac OS X, iPod, iTunes, iTunes Store, iPhone, App Store… That’s why real tech journalists cover Steve Jobs so thoroughly, John.
Dvorak continues, “While a lot of this can be blamed on the fact that Neonode and Helio don’t have the same buzz machine Apple has working for it, that should be beside the point. I say this because all of the hotshot big-market journalists—especially the ones working for large-circulation daily newspapers—brag about how they are not influenced by PR people and they like to do everything themselves. Meanwhile, they all flock to PR-driven Apple. Which of these jokers has written anything in detail about the Samsung iPhone lookalike?”
MacDailyNews Take: Careful, John, that was a bit too transparent. It might actually qualify as satire.
Dvorak continues, “I often wonder whether there would be any line at all if the media wasn’t glorifying these dummies in the first place. You already know the answer.”
MacDailyNews Take: The real answer would surprise you, John. There would be a line. Because Apple innovates and creates quality products that people desire to own and use. You have far too high an opinion of the media, John. Probably because you’re part of the mainstream media and your overinflated ego is dwarfed by nothing, not even that which is not at all concealed by your garish Hawaiian shirts. You’re not a genius, John. You’re a clown.
Nobody with at least half a brain cares a whit about what you write or think, John. You have no power. You couldn’t create a line for something if you tried. God knows, you can dispel one, though; all you have to do is show up. Fewer beans, John. Fewer beans.
Steve Jobs’ tombstone won’t physically be able to adequately convey all of his accomplishments. What will your tombstone read, John? “Here lies a bloated hit whore who baited Web surfers with petty, snide, jealous remarks about vastly superior people and products. In a sad irony, his words rang completely hollow because he did not even believe what he wrote himself, using his words instead to entice clicks from an ubiquitous device that he could not even foresee as useful. His most famous quote: The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a mouse. There is no evidence that people want to use these things. – 1984″
John Dvorak admits to baiting Mac users for hits:
Direct link via YouTube here.
Full article, containing absolutely nothing of value as usual, Think Before You Click™, here.
I have actually seen him make statements that are logical.
It makes me doubt my own sanity when he does.
Is that windbag still around?
This from a guy whose profession is earmarked by countless flattering articles on software and hardware that never actually existed for the benefit of a certain software behemoth. Anyone own a Surface yet?
The sad irony is that this is sad irony: the tech press fell all over themselves to herald the future arrival of Windows 7 so as to pretend the Vista debacle never happened.
I personally like Dvorak. I always click on MDN links that report on him. He’s blunt and straight forward. At least he’s honest enough to admit that he baits Mac users.
For those on this forum that are putting Dvorak down as an idiot, how can you say this. The guy lives and breathes technology. He’s been doing so his entire career. You may not agree with Dvorak, but he’s entitled to his opinion and I personally tend to almost always agree with him (maybe I’m an idiot too
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I like when he is a guest on TWIT. He’s always a grouch. He’s not easily impressed. I think he makes the show a lot of fun.
He’s correct about the over coverage of the iPhone. I’m sure there are other great phones that don’t get any coverage. Even if they are covered, they are always compared to the iPhone.
Why does MDN or any other site pay attention to Dvorak? don’t you know he does that in other to catch attention because he is so stupid that he does not know other way to do that.
He’s just trolling for hits again. Nothing else to see here.
Ya know, after “The New World Symphony” he never did much worthwhile – this proves it – damn – fishing for hits.
While the 3G iPhone launch should get some coverage-I to am tired of it being the sole focus of many podcasts/news sites.
Isn’t anyone else doing anything interesting?
No-then the rest of you tech companies need to get off your asses and show some effort.
Best. MDN. Take. EVER!
Dvorak wouldn’t know journalism if it was the Titanic and fell on him.
The iPhone gets the coverage because it’s the future right there in your hands. The Samsung “lookalike” didn’t get as much covereage for the same reason Sanjaya didn’t get the coverage that Dughtry gets. One’s a pretender in drag, the other’s a hard core rock and roller. (Well, okay, only when comparing the two.)
I’m upset at the coverage Dvorak gets.
“Which of these jokers has written anything in detail about the Samsung iPhone lookalike?”
Right, they should review the photocopies beside the original. Aside from comparing the features, they should compare the OS and ease of integration, such as the fact that iPod owners can sync their iPhone to the same software. Excellent.
OK, get this then if you want a great example of iPhone ignored syndrome… The BBC online news site has YET TO MENTION AT ALL the iPhone launch, 1m sold and 10m downloads of the App store. The only mention they have given to the new iPhone is of the download problems on Friday…!
Complain away if you pay a BBC license fee like I do – and begrudge every penny of it.
As I’ve said before, Dvorak is a noob. Back in 1984 or 1985, he wrote in Infoworld that there was no need for the WIMP interface (Windows, Icons, Mouse, Pull-down menus) and there was no evidence it made anyone more efficient. He wrote about how he had become so proficient using DOS. Really, he was expert in the command-line interface and was simply disappointed that this new technology would level the playing field and erode his “expertise.”
DVORAK’S WRITINGS ON COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ARE ABSURD. IGNORE HIM FOR GOD’S SAKE. THE ONLY REASON HE’S STILL EMPLOYED AS A WRITER IS HE KEEPS WRITING TRIPE THAT 1) PEOPLE READ, SO 2) ADVERTISERS BY AD SPACE.
The headline should be changed to read “Pompous windbag bemoans lack of coverage of pompous windbags”
The only time I hear anything about this guy is on MDN. He actually gets paid to write? Does he have a day job?
Covers over-coverage with more coverage?
Am I crazy?
Dolt.
In my mind’s eye I still Dvorak on the last page of MacUser back in the day (or was it MacWorld). He was kinda cute back then, and in his own ugly way, he’s still kinda cute.
And no, I’m not gay – Usually.
John wrote in March 2007:
“Apple should pull the plug on the iPhone” — http://www.applegazette.com/on-the-web/dvorack-thinks-apple-should-dump-the-iphone-before-its-too-late/
He is a ding dong. Why bother with this nut job!!
John C. Dvorak and dvorak.com/blog both rock!!
Not surprised at all to see MDN hooked and reeled in yet again.
John C. Dvorak, whose crankiness knows no bounds, is a contributing editor of PC Magazine, for which he has been writing two columns, including the popular Inside Track, since 1986.
The consistently irritated Dvorak has won eight national awards from the Computer Press Association, including Best Columnist and Best Column.
Dvorak is also a weekly columnist for Dow-Jones Marketwatch, Info! (Brazil) and BUG Magazine (Croatia). He was previously a columnist for Forbes, Forbes Digital, PC World, MacUser, PC/Computing, Barrons, Smart Business and other magazines and newspapers and is a former editor and consulting editor for Infoworld. Dvorak’s writing has also appeared in the New York Times, LA Times, SF Examiner, Vancouver Sun. He was on the start-up team for CNet TV and for ZDTV. At ZDTV (and TechTV), Dvorak was host of the show Silicon Spin for four years and did 1,000 live and live-to-tape TV shows. He was on public radio for 8 years and wrote over 4,000 articles and columns, and authored or co-authored 14 books.
Dvorak is the 2004 Award winner of the American Business Editors Association’s national gold award for best online column of 2003. That was followed up by an unprecedented second national gold award from the ABEA in 2005, again for the best online column (for 2004).
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Those of you complaining about Dvorak, please post your credentials and awards.
Bandit Bill,
He’s still an asshole no matter what his credentials.
So are you his press agent, or just an admirer?
Bandit Bill, brush your teeth. Your breath smells like Dvorak’s ass.
Dvorak is great. He’s way better at the baiting game than MDN.
He’s a fun read and often has some pretty insightful things to say and probably has more integrity than MDN.