Dvorak off his meds: claims Apple switching to Windows

Someone. Please. Help Dvorak find his meds. He's lost them again, resulting in yet another shock-value crackpot theory article that I chose not to link to on general principle. This time around, Dvorak has once again put inaccurate facts on the table and drudged up baseless speculation that Apple could - and already is - dropping Mac OS X to simply run Windows on their Macs.

No, that wasn't a typo. Dvorak thinks Apple is going to trash Mac OS X for Windows in what could be "the most phenomenal turnabout in the history of desktop computing," whatever that's supposed to mean (search for the article at PC Magazine, if you really want to read it). Most of his 'evidence' is based on claims that no one's switching over to the Mac, despite all of Apple's buzz over the last couple years and the (disputed) "iPod halo effect." Apparently, John didn't notice that Apple doubled its U.S. market share last year to 6.6%. While that isn't a monumental number, the fact that it doubled in barely a year is a significant factor I think John simply missed in what I'm sure was highly methodical research. Let's also not forget that Dell more or less asked Apple if they could sell OS X on their computers - what better way to cut down on customer service expenses?

The rest of his argument cites Apple dropping FireWire in the iPod, Apple's switch to Intel and the fact that large vendors like Adobe weren't ready when the new Intel machines landed. It seems that through his impeccable research, Dvorak also missed previous discussion about FireWire and its high-bandwidth, largely pro purpose, as well as the iPod's mass-market target. Let's also not forget that Adobe can't simply flip a switch and make CS hop over to the Intel side of the Mac CPU fence.

Poking holes in Dvorak's ideas aside, I'm starting to wonder if his articles are becoming not much more than thickly-veiled calls for help. Clearly, he's beginning to lose it, and I wonder if he's just having a hard time asking for the help he so clearly needs. Who's up for a "save John C. Dvorak" fund-raiser?

[thanks David Anasco. Image courtesy of John C. Dvorak's Wikipedia entry]

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Someone. Please. Help Dvorak find his meds. He's lost them again, resulting in yet another shock-value crackpot theory article that I chose...

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will

dvorak = fat
= idiot
= attention-seeeker

February 27 2006 at 7:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Todd Homan-Jones

didn't he used to write for MacUser or another Mac magazine back in the 90's? Or am I thinking of Guy Kawasaki?

February 26 2006 at 3:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

This guy really smoked crack. Before re-writing the whole OS to fit on a crappy Windows-Kernel, we will more likely see a MS-compatible layer that runs .exe files on demand in the next version of OS X.
There is no need, not at all, to change the stable UNIX kernel in favor of a Windows kernel which will open the Mac OS to any viruses spreading around.
We will have, in my opinion, in a couple of years Apple being the only computer manufacturer that can run 'any application in the world' - with above mentioned layer and with a rock-solid OS X based on a UNIX kernel. Alongside, of course, with the ability to run Linux apps in X11.
No one at Apple wants to kill a 6-year development of OS X on UNIX to do something completely different - and obviously to step down from the lead in SW manufacturing.
This guy really will probably suggest Mercedes to step down from manufacturing luxurious cars to produce the Russian LADA. Simply for being 'mainstream'.
Great laugh, man. It will never happen. Apple was talked so many times dead in its history, it will never ever be dependent on another company.

February 19 2006 at 6:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Josh Pyles

Wow! This is excellent comedy!! This stuff is better then SNL and Jerry Springer combined! Dvorak is my favorite new comedy writer!

February 18 2006 at 11:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Manuel Perez

I still remember the last time I read one of his columns... way back when Apple first introduced the mac. I had a Mac 512KE and this guy actually said that the machine would not sell "because the keyboard was to small to put on your lap". Never mind that at the time the graphics, the mouse and the whole package was truly out of this world... he just did not like the tiny keyboard... he hasn't changed.

February 17 2006 at 7:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bob Jacobson

Yeah, that's what I'd do, switch to the most bug-ridden OS in software history. Definitely a real mindwarping, breakthrough strategy....

February 17 2006 at 7:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

John C. Dvorak

I'm laughing all the way to the bank.

February 17 2006 at 6:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Eric

http://dvorakisnuts.org/

February 17 2006 at 3:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

rdas7

sorry double post :P