About Me
I
first started my writing career about 10 or so years ago; this was at the
time when Amstrad's popular word processing computers, the Amstrad PCW 9512
was in vogue. Never having looked at a word processor before, let alone a
personal computer, I was fascinated at how much faster a job could be done
when compared to a standard typewriter. After purchasing mu very own Amstrad
PCW 9512 it wasn't long before I began contributing to the very popular PCW
Plus magazine published by Future Publishing. The memories still linger of
that faithful first machine.
However, nothing stand still for very long, particularly in the field of Information Technology, so, as you can appreciate, it wasn't long before the old PCW 9512 was passed on to someone else and was replaced by a shiny new Personal Computer.
Tentatively my writing contributions moved away from PCW Plus and onto Future Publishing's flagship PC Plus. This gave me the opportunity to explore the PC more fully and, in particular, begin reviewing computer software.
After a while I began contributing to Ziff Davies' Publication, PC Direct. This opened up opportunities in other magazines including PC Advisor and PC Pro.
But of course I don't only write reviews for magazines. About six years ago I was lucky enough to begin beta testing software for Microsoft and a few other software manufacturer's such as Zone Labs, Acronis, and Future Systems Solutions. This proved to be a very rewarding experience.
Testing products first hand enabled me to experience the many faults that beta software suffers. This lead me to the many newsgroups, giving practical advice to people, like myself, who either had had problems and solved them, or else were still experiencing them.
Obviously I had 'slid' through Windows Me without too much problem, but Windows XP and Vista produced more of the 'bugs' that Microsoft needed to cure. Once again I scoured the Microsoft Public Newsgroups and, if I knew the solution to a problem, I posted as regularly as I could. It was from these Public Newsgroups that my efforts in helping others was finally recognised. It was at this time, October 2001, that I was awarded Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Status. I am happy to say that I am now in my 8th year as an active MVP and hope to continue helping others solve their computing problems.
In 2005 I authored, along with Curt Simmons, Alan Simpson and David Dalan, a new addition to the Windows XP library entitled "Windows XP MVP"
As well as this web site I also run two others - Vista Support and XP Help And Support