Andy Rathbone started geeking around with computers in 1985 when he bought a 26-pound portable CP/M Kaypro 2X. Like other nerds of the day, he soon began playing with null-modem adapters, dialing computer bulletin boards, and working parttime at Radio Shack.
He wrote articles for various techie publications before moving to computer books in 1992. He’s written the Windows For Dummies series, Upgrading and Fixing PCs for Dummies, TiVo for Dummies, and many other computer books.
Today, he has more than 15 million copies of his books in print, and they’ve been translated into more than 30 languages. Andy can be reached at his Web site, http://www.andyrathbone.com.
Peter Meyers (editor) works as an editor at O’Reilly Media on the Missing Manual series. He lives with his wife in New York City. Email: peter.meyers@gmail.com.
Sarah Milstein (editor) is O’Reilly’s senior editor for Missing Manuals. She’s pleased to finally understand that “1394” really means “FireWire.” Email: milstein@oreilly.com.
Carla Spoon (copy editor) is a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader. She works and feeds her tech gadget addiction from her home office in the shadow of Mount Rainier. Email: carla_spoon@comcast.net. Web: http://www.carlaspoon.com.
Jim Aspinwall (technical reviewer) is a PC deployment project manager and consultant, and the author of several PC articles and books including PC Hacks, published by O’Reilly. Email: hacks@raisin.com.
Rob Bourns (technical reviewer) first learned about electronics in the Marines when he worked as a Ground Radio Repairman. He now works as a Splicing Technician for the phone company. He has lived in Sebastopol, California most of his life. Email: robbourns@yahoo.net.
Andy Carciere (technical reviewer) served for 25 years as a school administrator. During those years he championed the use of technology as a tool to enhance learning. Andy currently consults with districts and schools on the administrative and instructional use of technology to improve the teaching and learning process. Email: andyc@sonic.net.
Justin Watt (technical reviewer) is currently a senior web producer for O’Reilly Media, Inc.’s Online Publishing Group. He blogs at justinsomnia.org, where you can read about his adventures in Northern California. Email: justin@oreilly.com.
Rose Cassano (cover illustration) has worked as an independent designer and illustrator for 20 years. Assignments have ranged from the nonprofit sector to corporate clientele. She lives in beautiful Southern Oregon, grateful for the miracles of modern technology that make working there a reality. Email: cassano@uci.net. Web: http://www.rosecassano.com.
Thanks to Matt Wagner for making this book possible, to my beautiful wife Tina Rathbone for editing each chapter before submission, to Sarah Milstein for helping create a detailed outline, and to Peter Meyers for whipping the book into shape.
Missing Manuals are witty, superbly written guides to computer products that don’t come with printed manuals (which is just about all of them). Each book features a handcrafted index; cross-references to specific page numbers (not just “see Chapter 14“); and RepKover, a detached-spine binding that lets the book lie perfectly flat without the assistance of weights or cinder blocks.
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