John C. Dvorak, tech journalist who doubted the iPhone, dies at 80

August 1, 2026 - 05:52

Dvorak wrote for major publications including InfoWorld, PC Magazine, and the San Francisco Examiner over a career that spanned more than four decades. He was a familiar voice in the early days of personal computing, often questioning the hype around new gadgets and industry trends. One of his most remembered moments came in 2007 when he publicly doubted the iPhone, calling it a minor product that would not change the market. That prediction turned out to be wrong, but it fit his style of pushing back against the tech press's tendency to overpraise new releases.

Born in 1944, Dvorak started in journalism in the 1970s and became one of the most widely read tech writers of his generation. He also hosted several podcasts and radio shows, including "Dvorak's Tech Talk" and "No Agenda," which he co-hosted with Adam Curry. His columns often mixed humor with sharp criticism, and he was not afraid to take on both big companies and his own colleagues.

Dvorak's influence faded in recent years as the tech media landscape shifted, but his early work helped define how technology was covered in the mainstream press. He is survived by his family.