John graduated from the University of California with a B.A. in history and chemistry minor. He worked as a chemist for Union Oil and with the Bay Area Air Quality Management as an Air Pollution Inspector before he became interested in computers. In 1975, he returned to the university to learn computer programming.  He joined the microcomputer revolution in 1976, with the purchase of an early
SOL computer.

By 1978, he began a software company which specialized in the development and sales of CP/M microcomputer software. By 1980, the part-time business was so successful that he quit his day job to run the company full-time. In addition, he began a popular newsletter, The Software Review. CW Communications approached him in 1982, to edit a growing new journal called InfoWorld. He remained for two years until book contracts required that he concentrate his energies. However, he remained as a free-lance writer and became a leading columnist. (In 1981, he dissolved the software sales company
as the market had moved in different directions).

The popular "gossip" and news column moved from InfoWorld to PC Magazine to
reach a larger, more advanced computer audience in 1985. (This column is
translated and found in Ziff publications on every continent). He currently
writes for a number of publications including: The Vancouver Sun, PC Computing,
PC Magazine UK, Boardwatch Magazine, and Microtimes. John is an on-air
television columnist on the popular C/NET cable program, and hosts a weekly
nationwide Public Radio interview radio show (Software/Hardtalk) broadcast to
over 100 stations. He has had a number of published books. Current titles in
print include: Dvorak's Guide to PC Telecommunications, Dvorak's Buyer's Guide (updated yearly), and Dvorak Predicts.

John freelances whenever possible. His writings have appeared in Newsweek,
Time-Life, International Herald-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Barrons,
Microscope, S.F. Examiner, MicroScope, MacUser, Computer Shopper, Computer
Currents, High Tech Import/Export, Continental Magazine, to name a few. He's
been profiled in Business Week, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, the New York
Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone. He has been a featured guest
on The Larry King Show (four times), the Christian Science Monitor talk
interview show, PBS's All Things Considered, Entertainment Tonight, Voice of
America Business Report, as well as other national television and radio shows.