In my nearly 30-year career as a technology journalist, I have written about virtually every type of computer hardware—from the 386SX to 64-core processors—in my roles as an editor, writer, and advice columnist. I spent almost a quarter of a century working on the landmark, enormous Computer Shopper magazine (and later, its digital equivalent), also known as the phone book for PC buyers and the archenemy of every mail carrier. I served as Computer Shopper’s editor in chief for nine of its final ten years before PCMag.com absorbed much of its online content. Additionally, I briefly held the position of head editor at the well-known hard-core technology website Tom’s Hardware.

I’ve constructed and demolished enough desktop PCs in that time to outfit an entire city block’s worth of internet cafes. I’ve constructed PCs from the bare board to bootup in under 5 minutes while competing.

In the beginning of my career, I worked as an editor for Brady Books, editing technical computer guidebooks and scholarly science books (now, BradyGames). I was born and raised in New York City, attended journalism school there, and am a Phi Beta Kappa member.

View John’s whole bio