I have been writing for many years from my base in Durban, South Africa and, although I have tended to specialise in
IT-related stories, I have written on many subjects including motoring and travel. I am also highly experienced in producing Public Relations and Advertorial-type copy.

Writings in 2008

The blog with artcle from my weekly computer column is still on the go here. This year, I got moving on another blog which has mostly to do with current happenings in Durban. It is intended to complement my Durban history site, and the distictions between them are often pretty blurred.

Writings in 2007

Much of my writing in the last while has been to do with my book and has been posted there. That includes quite a number of articles I have contributed to our local ratepayers' magazine Metrobeat.

Writings in 2006

I was asked to re-start my week technology column in the local Sunday paper. I have started a blog here to post them after they are published.

Broadband Internet Connections

A review of Telkom's HomeDSL 384 package and a look at Sentech's My Wireless 128kbps wireless service.
February 2005.

Sundry reviews - 2003/2004

A selection of reviews which I've done in the last couple of years including one on Encarta 2005 and a whole lot more.

I have just written and have published a book!

Facts About Durban is a book packed with interesting facts and trivia to do with the City of Durban in South Africa. The book is featured on its own website here. - June 2003

Mini Reviews

• Encarta 2003 Premium - June 2003
• EZ-Go Miniature PC - June 2003

Stories About This and That

• Three Wishes - February 2003
• Internet Woes - August 2002

Jackson's Jaunt - 2001

• A Walk Through Dublin
• A Canter to Cork
• A Gallop Through Galway

General Internet Stories

• Does my business need the Internet??
• What can I use the Internet for??
• Implementing a Web Presence
• What's an Intranet anyway??

From The Archives

I become a Road Warrior
Here I am in Ireland after realising that I had been almost seven years without leave and deciding it was high time I had a proper break. (Written in October 2001 for publication in the Sunday Tribune later in the year)

Digital Mini Photo-lab
Later the same day I popped into FotoMax in Springfield Park to see what I believe is the first fully digital mini photo-lab in Durban. (XT's are 20) 26 August 2001.

Wireless Internet Arrives In Durban
In the last weeks few weeks I’ve had a couple of interesting digital experiences. 19 August 2001.

The Office XP Saga
My four-part take on MS Office XP. Sunday Tribune, 24 June - 29 July 2001.

HP PhotoSmart 215
The other day an interesting box containing a PhotoSmart 215 digital camera arrived from Hewlett Packard.

Encarta Reference Suite 2001
One of my most pleasant annual duties is to review the latest version of Microsoft Encarta. 8 & 15 April 2001 - Sunday Tribune.

Developments in Digital Surveillance
The Closed Circuit Television surveillance industry has been revolutionised by the comparatively recent adoption of digital technology. 7 March 2001 - Mercury Network.

HP 350Cbi DeskJet & Norton Ghost
Unpacking and re-packing hardware is not my favourite task which is why I tend to put off doing hardware reviews for as long as possible. Sunday Tribune - 1 April 2000.

Viruses & Remote Backup
I’m not sure whether it’s my imagination or not but I have the feeling that computer viruses are becoming more common and destructive.

Looking Back on 2000 and Forward to 2001
During last year there was not much excitement in the local personal computing world.

Radio KZNET scores African First
Internet radio KZNET has scored an African first with its live broadcast of the 2001 Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon. February 2001.

Christmas 2000 Games
My calendar says that Albert Schweitzer won his Nobel prize on this day in 1954 which is interesting but totally irrelevant. 10 November 2000.

Microsoft Picture It! 2001
Microsoft Picture It! Photo & Print Studio 2001 was one of the items which arrived in my annual Christmas goodies parcel. 26 Nov. & 3 Dec. 2000.

Landrover Freelander 2001 Launch
Land Rover looks set to make an even greater impact in the sports utility vehicle market. November 2000.

More Apples
Spring may or may not be the Apple season but they certainly seem to be cropping up in my life with some regularity - 5 & 12 November 2000.

To Apple or not to Apple
I was asked to do a short story presenting the views for and against Apple Computers.

A New Work Machine
First there were Minnie and Henry and then came Neddie, Bluebottle, Eccles, the test machine, and Grydpype, the Internet server - 22 & October 2000.

The Windows ME Columns
In the last few weeks I've been talking a good bit about Windows 2000 Professional and how impressed I'd been.

The Land Rover Experience (Inchanga)
So you caved in to fashion and went and bought that glamorous off-road vehicle that you've been yearning for.

The Windows 2000 Pro Chronicles
Last week I wrote about WAP and how little I was looking forward to connecting to the Internet with my cellphone.

Reflections on WAP & DVD
Sometimes I feel as though I must be out of step with everyone else just because I'm profoundly uninterested in accessing the Internet from my cellphone.

Fiddlings with Corel Linux & WordPerfect
Just the other day I was reminded of some unfinished business by a display in a computer shop.

El Cheapo Products and ADSL
Sometimes you can get away with buying an el-cheapo product but most of the time you end up getting caught.

Internet Connection Woes
This past week I've come to the momentous decision that I have to do something decisive about my Internet connection.

Macromedia Dreamweaver
Last week's column on the Internet frustrations I've been having brought forth a fair bit of comment from readers.

Early Windows 2000 Experiences
Wholly satisfactory computing experiences are rare things to be treasured and shared.

Installing Corel Linux
Last year (1999) Corel Corporation launched its own computer operating system in the shape of Corel Linux.

CorelDRAW 9 Office Edition & Norton Ghost
This week it is the turn of CorelDRAW 9 Office Edition to appear under my relentless spotlight.

Microsoft Encarta 2000 Deluxe
Parents have to carry many burdens but one of the most stressful of these is school projects.

Looking back at 1999 in Computing
In my first column or three this year I thought I'd take a look back at last year and maybe even take a brief look at what the future might hold from a computing viewpoint.

Microsoft Office 2000
An interesting bunch of CD-ROMs landed on my desk the other day and I'll be looking at them over the next few weeks.

How do you know if a web site is good or bad??
While surfing the web the other day I started thinking about what makes one web site good and what makes another bad - written in September 1997.

The On-going Voice Recognition Saga
Under the spotlight this week is voice recognition software which I’ve been wanting to play with for some time. (written in late 1997)

What's an Intranet anyway??
An Intranet is just like a private version of the Internet on your office computer network and it works exactly like the Internet does.

Implementing a Web Presence
There are a number of choices you have to make once you decide to go ahead and establish a presence on Web.

What can I use the Internet for??
It might be easier to answer the question by asking what you can’t use it for.

Does my business need the Internet??
For most types of businesses the answer is a resounding yes. It is really only businesses at the corner café level relying solely on the passing trade that wouldn’t benefit from having a web presence.