I’ve been into computers since 1975 when I saw my first one. The darn things have fascinated (and frustrated) me ever since. I started buying my own in 1978 which also started a whole host of friendships. Many of the great Nerds are of my time. Some are still with us, some have passed on. My (late) friend S Kenneth Stoke said "We had computers before Billy Gates had a garage". David Walsh rented his first computer from me. And if I'd bought stock in Microsoft, Apple or Google, I wouldn't be writing this blog, I'd have lots of staff in solid gold uniforms to do it for me. But I digress as is my way, Dear Reader.

I’ve been a programmer, salesman, technician, service manager - you name it, all aspects of computing. I'm currently on assignment with a large Australian Government department doing on site support and loving it. I miss the personal interaction of supporting small business but then a department is just several hundred small businesses really.

After over 25 years as a "Microsoft Man" I switched my own computing to Apple and I'm really happy with that decision. I get paid to fix Windows but no one pays me to fix my own stuff. When I get home or in my office, I just want my blessed computer to work, and my Mac just does that.

I work on Dell, Apple, Sun, HP, Toshiba, Epson, Lexmark, Cisco, Quantum, EMC, NetApp, ATMs and just about anything else. John of all trades! (no one has ever called me Jack, thankfully)

These pages contain my thoughts and opinions on a lot of stuff. I get to see computers when they break, how the companies handle warranty and the whole life cycle of just about every brand you can imagine. The search is very good but if you absolutely need to contact me and don't know how, email jay ess at uprun dot com. (say it out loud)

It's my mission to help non-geeks ("normal people") use computers in the best way possible. To help them avoid the crap (and there's plenty of that) buy the right gear, use it to the max and have it become a valuable tool in their work and life. To help them avoid viruses, scams and other road-blocks the IT industry puts in their way.

My articles and explanations are not detailed, scientific technical discussions, just basic, easy to read, boiled down, short stories for real people. I try not to over-simplify and become condescending, but to keep it to the things you really need to know. The goal with my blog is the same as my work, helping people use computers.