Chris Maxcer
Chris Maxcer
I'm a writer — mostly freelance and mostly business and consumer technology, but I've published short fiction and have a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing — the diploma is packed away in some box, haven’t seen it in years. I've recently completed a screenplay, "Naked with the Pollywogs," which was a kick in the pants to write. (And while there is nakedness and there are pollywogs, they don't go together, exactly, because, well . . . that's just messed up.)
Technology reporting and analysis, though, is what’s been paying the bills. For tech clips, check out my Tech Clips page for samples from publications like TechNewsWorld, MacNewsWorld, E-Commerce Times, LinuxInsider, System iNEWS Magazine, SAP NetWeaver magazine, SearchOracle.com, Work.com, and 1to1 Magazine.
My work regularly hits the Google Sci/Tech pages, and Apple even picked up one of my iPhone reviews and promoted it on their site — way cool, especially since the review was tempered with some negative criticism. Walt Mossberg, David Pogue — who are those guys, anyway? <g>
As for resume-type titles, I’ve been a news editor, web editor, web producer, and business development manager for Penton Media, where I’ve produced more than 100 biz-tech webcasts and dozens of podcasts.
I've also written for Men's Health, Men's Edge, and Women's Health & Fitness.*

the basics
* For Women's Health & Fitness, I spent a year as the Answer Man, the mag's go-to guy for relationship questions, and while the gig didn’t pay that much and my friends teased me mercilessly, I could always end every argument with, "Pfff. What do you know, anyway? Who's the Answer Man here? I mean, do you have fans who want you to come visit them in Austin?" A few months before Rachael Ray's show was about to go big-time, one her producers got in touch, looking for a DVD and more about me as a possible contributor to the show. But that was before Rachael was the next Oprah — I mean, she was the surprisingly endearing chick from the Food Network, and what did I know about food? EVOO? I thought that stuff came out of spray can. Ah well, WH&F sold to a company in the UK as part of a larger deal and was closed a few months later. And I still use olive oil in a spray can. Damn handy. As for Rachael Ray, she’s remains surprisingly endearing.
When we were confined to tents during torrential downpours north of Yosemite National Park, and I had closed the back cover to my Carl Hiaasen novel, I could have used my iPhone to watch Jason Bourne, James Bond, Nicholas Angel, Ricky Bobby, and of course, Elizabeth Swann.
"I left my iPhone behind."
Each year, I talk to a lot of people — industry analysts, CEOs, CIOs, IT managers, spokespersons, therapists, athletes, and one year, Mr. Clean. I kid you not. Met him in the Toronto airport. And yes, his bald head really does sparkle. In any event, sometimes my sources really nail the issue. Here’s my favorite quote of 2007:
"Given that Apple had actually stolen the trademark that Cisco owned, and Apple actually had a product on the market, Cisco had an incredible amount of power in this negotiation. To have Apple walk in and pretty much just take it ... it speaks to the amazing skill that Steve Jobs has in doing stuff like this. I can't picture anybody who is negotiating a deal with Apple and isn't scared to death. It's one of those things where you sit back in awe of how Apple can pull these kinds of things off time and time again."
favorite quote of 2007
— Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst, Enderle Group