Dvorak Mac experience

Noted Apple critic John C. Dvorak has written a generally favorable view of recent experiences using an iMac, which he requested for a work project in a Mac-based office. Comparing the system to a PC, he notes that the interface is "slicker," and that he feels less concerned about issues such as viruses and spyware. Mac OS X is also described as seeming "more solid" than Microsoft Windows, which Dvorak attributes to the Mac's Unix substructure.

The primary value of Macs is said to be simplicity: whereas PC users may have to deal with firewalls, anti-virus software and unstable subsystems, a Mac user can often load a program and get his work done without complications.

Dvorak does not universally praise the platform; he argues that in many respects, Macs and PCs run the same programs with equal ability, and a Mac may not always have the best interface. Some examples include the conceit for burning CDs, described as unnecessarily complex, and unspecified general aspects of navigating. He further critcizes "gimmicky" presentation features, such as bouncing icons and animated window minimizing.

He lastly suggests that what may drive people to the Mac is the growing prevalence of online applications, such as Google Docs, reducing the actual demands on a computer. For work-oriented users, Dvorak says, Macs may simply become another smart terminal.

by MacNN Staff