About the Author

Preston Gralla is the author of more than 30 books about computers and the Internet, which have been translated into 15 languages, including Internet Annoyances and Windows XP Power Hound. He has been writing about technology since the dawn of the PC age, and has been an editor and columnist for many national newspapers, magazines, and web sites. He was the founding editor of PC Week; a founding editor, then editor, then editorial director of PC/Computing; and executive editor for ZDNet/CNet. Preston has written about technology for numerous magazines and newspapers, including PC Magazine, Computerworld, CIO Magazine, Computer Shopper, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Dallas Morning News (where he was a technology columnist), and many others. He has been a columnist for ZDNet/CNet and is currently a columnist for TechTarget.com. His commentaries about technology have been featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," and he has won the award for the Best Feature in a Computer Publication from the Computer Press Association. Under his editorship, PC/Computing was a finalist for General Excellence from the National Magazine Awards. Preston is also the editor of O'Reilly's WindowsDevCenter.com site. He lives in Cambridge, Mass., with his wife and two childrenalthough his daughter has recently fled the nest for college. Between writing books, articles, and columns, he swims, plays tennis, goes to the opera, and contemplates the ram's skull hanging on the wall of his office.