Contributors

No book can begin or be completed without help from numerous resources and the keen eye of several talented individuals. A hacks book is no different, as it draws from many people and their challenges with whatever topic we're addressing. While there are many, many sharp minds who have shared knowledge and ideas towards this work, three individuals stand out as much for their unwitting role as contributors as for their constant and severe challenges to me to make this book better topic by topic and word by word:

Scott Spanbauer allowed me to write a few words with him for PC World, and because of his reputation and quality work I suggested he become one of the technical reviewers on this project. Not only did Scott review the heck out of what I'd written (I'm still trying to get the red ink off my monitor), he at least inadvertently if not intentionally contributed a lot of guidance, ideas, and pure hacks to this project. Look for Scott in PC World and other venues and enjoy!

Lincoln Spector, a cowriter when I was still writing my Windows columns, brings not only a reputation for having a keen user's-perspective eye but a tremendous sense of personality to technical subjects. I wanted Lincoln on-board as another technical editor, and I got that and much more. Adding a hack suggestion here and there, he also had questions about other possible hacks and spawned more and better entries. If you get a chance, thank him for his contributions and do look up his "Gigglebytes" columns!

Brian Jepson of O'Reilly turned out to be more than a project editor, and I swear he encouraged Scott and Lincoln to be merciless with their reviews, and then joined right in with them at my expense, but to the betterment of this work. Having good editors is both a blessing and a curse, but all for the better. They make you work your butt off and then hand you back clean, polished, presentable material you don't mind showing your friends and family, can be especially proud of when it appears on store shelves, and be happier still when someone takes a copy off the shelf and home with them. Brian contributed more than editing and project management; he contributed several hacks of his own and greatly refined the ones I humbly submitted.