FOSS and cloud reporter

• Nov 2021 - Present

Freelance writer and English teacher

• Nov 1996 - Nov 2021

Self-employed IT consultant, English teacher, and writer/editor, mainly technical journalism - currently chiefly for the Register (www.theregister.co.uk), but previously for the Inquirer (www.theinquirer.net), PC Pro, PC Plus, MacUser & many other titles. Regular columns in Custom PC and Network News. Writing experience covers features, reviews, news, how-to articles, plus editing, commissioning & subbing. Self-employed IT consultant, English teacher, and writer/editor, mainly technical journalism - currently chiefly for the Register (www.theregister.co.uk), but previously for the Inquirer (www.theinquirer.net), PC Pro, PC Plus, MacUser & many other titles. Regular columns in Custom PC and Network News. Writing experience covers features, reviews, news, how-to articles, plus editing, commissioning & subbing.

Technical writer/editor

• Sep 2017 - Oct 2021

Software director

• Jan 2009 - Dec 2016

Primary role: sourcing, assembling & producing the Linux-based system software for the Simplicity Computer, a range of low-cost PCs running Linux with a dramatically-simplified front-end to enable older people and seniors with no previous computer knowledge to access the Internet. Secondarily: co-wrote, recorded and assembled the multiple tutorial videos and manuals accompanying the machines, and their online materials. Primary role: sourcing, assembling & producing the Linux-based system software for the Simplicity Computer, a range of low-cost PCs running Linux with a dramatically-simplified front-end to enable older people and seniors with no previous computer knowledge to access the Internet. Secondarily: co-wrote, recorded and assembled the multiple tutorial videos and manuals accompanying the machines, and their online materials.

Customer Care Escalation Specialist

• Sep 2014 - Aug 2015

In essence, acting as the complaints department for this top-5 antivirus software vendor. Handling customers' issues in English, French and Norwegian (and occasionally Spanish and German). Putting customers through for assistance with accounts, subscriptions, refunds, technical support, renewals, product information and any other issues relating to AVG products, including technical feedback, bug reports, suggestions and more. In essence, acting as the complaints department for this top-5 antivirus software vendor. Handling customers' issues in English, French and Norwegian (and occasionally Spanish and German). Putting customers through for assistance with accounts, subscriptions, refunds, technical support, renewals, product information and any other issues relating to AVG products, including technical feedback, bug reports, suggestions and more.

Technical Writer

• May 2014 - Jul 2014

Covering JBoss FUSE, on the Enterprise Content Services team Covering JBoss FUSE, on the Enterprise Content Services team

Research Executive

• Apr 2012 - Dec 2012

Market research and corporate intelligence-gathering and report-writing. Market research and corporate intelligence-gathering and report-writing.

Consultant

• Apr 2011 - May 2011

3rd line software support on Windows XP, Vista & 7 and Windows Server 2000, 2003 and 2008/R2. 3rd line software support on Windows XP, Vista & 7 and Windows Server 2000, 2003 and 2008/R2.

Networks Editor, Heise-Online.co.uk

• 2008 - Dec 2008

Editing this new UK tech news site, owned by Germany's largest computer-magazine publisher. I ran the Networks channel from its opening in September, and later the whole site, until my section was closed following the appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief. Editing this new UK tech news site, owned by Germany's largest computer-magazine publisher. I ran the Networks channel from its opening in September, and later the whole site, until my section was closed following the appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief.

Out-of-hours support

• 2008 - 2008

Field desktop PC support for the Transport for London MAN/WAN (via outsourcers CSC), supporting 38,000+ users on 20,000+ XP machines and thin clients. Field desktop PC support for the Transport for London MAN/WAN (via outsourcers CSC), supporting 38,000+ users on 20,000+ XP machines and thin clients.

Systems consultant

• 2002 - 2002

Managing and supporting NT4/W2K/WinXP servers & clients, MS Exchange, Lotus Notes, Linux & AS/400 systems for clients in Britain and Belgium. Managing and supporting NT4/W2K/WinXP servers & clients, MS Exchange, Lotus Notes, Linux & AS/400 systems for clients in Britain and Belgium.

Labs Manager & Technical Writer, PC Pro

• Jan 1995 - Dec 1996

Initially, running in-house testing labs, testing, reviewing and tracking movements of all products featured in the magazine. Also sysadmin & support of editorial team & in-house LANs (Netware 4, Windows 3/95/NT 3.51 & 4, MacOS). Later, full-time staff technical writer/editor: obtaining, testing & reviewing hardware & software, writing technical articles and editing and proofing work. Support duties expanded to include reader assistance & work on the magazine’s monthly cover CD-ROM. Initially, running in-house testing labs, testing, reviewing and tracking movements of all products featured in the magazine. Also sysadmin & support of editorial team & in-house LANs (Netware 4, Windows 3/95/NT 3.51 & 4, MacOS). Later, full-time staff technical writer/editor: obtaining, testing & reviewing hardware & software, writing technical articles and editing and proofing work. Support duties expanded to include reader assistance & work on the magazine’s monthly cover CD-ROM.

IT Manager

• 1992 - 1995

Running part of Scandinavia-wide WAN. London segment included VAX/VMS, DEC PathWorks, Novell NetWare & Windows. Managed migration from DOS with Netware & Pathworks servers via DECnet on Thin Ethernet to Windows 3 and NT 3.5 servers via TCP/IP on Cat5; designed and built new LAN and X.11-based information distribution system; installed new NT/SQL Server based back-office system. Running part of Scandinavia-wide WAN. London segment included VAX/VMS, DEC PathWorks, Novell NetWare & Windows. Managed migration from DOS with Netware & Pathworks servers via DECnet on Thin Ethernet to Windows 3 and NT 3.5 servers via TCP/IP on Cat5; designed and built new LAN and X.11-based information distribution system; installed new NT/SQL Server based back-office system.

Technical support person

• 1992 - 1992

Supporting 300-user system running NetWare 3.11, Lotus 1-2-3 r3 & WordPerfect 5.1 plus VAX & mainframe system integration. Supporting 300-user system running NetWare 3.11, Lotus 1-2-3 r3 & WordPerfect 5.1 plus VAX & mainframe system integration.

Software support person

• 1991 - 1992

Another VAR; similar position to CSL and DigiCom, plus retail sales and workshop hardware repairs. Another VAR; similar position to CSL and DigiCom, plus retail sales and workshop hardware repairs.

Technical support person

• 1990 - 1991

Another VAR; duties very similar to at CSL. Another VAR; duties very similar to at CSL.

Technical support person

• 1988 - 1990

All levels of H/W & S/W installation, training & support, on PCs, Macs, Novell Netware 2, 3 & 4, SCO Xenix & Unix, IBM RS/6000 & AIX, DEC PDP-11, IBM AS/400 & System/36 & other systems. Helpdesk and on-site support, retail sales, workshop repairs, technical pre- & post-sales advice, troubleshooting, data recovery, & systems optimisation. Professional trainer, delivering courses on Lotus 1-2-3, MS Word, MS Works, Aldus PageMaker, & MS-DOS, both in-house and on-site. All levels of H/W & S/W installation, training & support, on PCs, Macs, Novell Netware 2, 3 & 4, SCO Xenix & Unix, IBM RS/6000 & AIX, DEC PDP-11, IBM AS/400 & System/36 & other systems. Helpdesk and on-site support, retail sales, workshop repairs, technical pre- & post-sales advice, troubleshooting, data recovery, & systems optimisation. Professional trainer, delivering courses on Lotus 1-2-3, MS Word, MS Works, Aldus PageMaker, & MS-DOS, both in-house and on-site.