From the Editor - Walt Mossberg: Not A Macaholic

by , 5:15 PM EDT, October 1st, 2004

On Thursday morning, we covered Walt Mossberg's latest column for the Wall Street Journal, which included positive comments about the Mac platform, and the iMac G5 in particular. In the TMO Spin for that piece, I made a joke about Mr. Mossberg being a Macaholic. Mr. Mossberg wrote to me last night to explain that he is not a Macaholic, but is instead an objective observer of all platforms, and that his loyalties lie with his readers, and not with any particular platform. Mr. Mossberg's note:

Bryan,

Thanks for mentioning my columns on your site. But I'd like to clear up one thing. I am not, to use your term, a "Macaholic." I actually use both Windows XP and the Mac daily. And I don't have a religious adherence to either one. In fact, the emotional, almost theological loyalty to the Mac -- or to Windows -- on the part of some folks, drives me nuts.

I like the Mac, enjoy using it, and am happy to recommend it to my readers when I think it's the right choice. I have owned Macs continuously since 1985, and Apple IIs before that. But I have also owned and used Windows machines for many years. And, there have been specific Mac models I have been unwilling to recommend. In fact, for years, in the 1990's, I actively steered people away from the Mac altogether, because I considered it mediocre in those days and because Apple had failed to bring out a new, better OS.

In recent years, both Apple's hardware and OS X have often been worthy of praise in my columns. And, lately, with the security crisis in Windows, I have felt that the Mac was an even better choice for average consumers than it has been in the past. Even though I get lambasted occasionally for praising the Mac, I will continue to do so when I think it makes sense.

But I assure you that I am fully capable of recommending a Windows solution over the Mac if it seems that would be better for my readers. I have no loyalty to any company or brand. Only to consumers.

Walt Mossberg

Mr. Mossberg is, of course, correct, and I thought it appropriate to clear up any confusion. My comment was intended as a bit of fun and humor pointing out how many good things Mr. Mossberg has been saying about the Mac platform (and Apple) of late. It was not, however, intended as an actual accusation that Mr. Mossberg was in some way a Mac zealot or Macaholic.

In fact, it is Mr. Mossberg's lack of partisanship that make his comments as important as I think they are. Writing for the Wall Street Journal means that Walt Mossberg's has an influential pulpit from which to reach a wide, and largely influential and affluent audience. When he says something about any product, it gets read by people the world over, including many business leaders. Having positive comments about the Mac reach that audience could well have a specific impact on the growth of the platform; were he perceived as being biased, he would lose much of his credibility.

So, there you have it: Walt Mossberg is not a Macaholic.

Bryan
Editor
TMO