Legendary technology columnist, pundit, author and podcast host John C. Dvorak has died, age 80. He is survived by his wife Mimi Dvorak.

Today Dvorak is best known for co-hosting the "No Agenda" podcast with Adam Curry, where he would critique mainstream news media. His death was first announced by the podcast on X, although note that Dvorak's age is mistakenly given as 74.

The podcast also produces a newsletter, which has subsequently gone into a little more detail.

"For a man who spent decades famously predicting the catastrophic demise of almost every major technological innovation," it says, "it is with the heaviest of hearts we must announce that John's own hardware finally gave out on Monday morning, July 20th, 2026, at the age of 80."

"He went peacefully, albeit suddenly, with Mimi at his side, critiquing the acting and story line ofNCIS," continues the newsletter.

Born in Los Angeles in 1946, Dvorak reportedly started his career writing about wine, but he soon moved to technology. He wrote for the most influential magazines and newspapers in the 1980s and 1990s, ranging from PC Magazine to the New York Times.

He was best known as a columnist, and one who would never shy away from controversy. I've got some experience working nearby the man. When we were in parallel jobs, with him on the UK's PC Magazine in the '80s, Dvorak's syndicated columns there regularly caused contentious arguments both amongst readers and staff.

Dvorak did like making unpopular comments, perhaps less because he believed them and more because he wanted to stir up engagement with readers. When Steve Jobs announced the iPad, for instance, he decried it before even getting to try it out.

"I'm of the opinion and hope that this device is only released as a market test and placeholder for something more spectacular in the future," he wrote at the time.

Dvorak also wrote or co-wrote more than a dozen books, ranging from technology history titles to How To guides. He was an early contributor to the CNET Central television series, and hosted his own radio shows including NPR's Technically Speaking.

In a wry nod to the unrelated Dvorak keyboard layout, in 1991 he also co-developed a game called "Dvorak on Typing."

The No Agenda newsletter says that the show will continue, and also invites donations "in celebration of JCD's legacy."