BACKGROUND OF PAUL REGO

1. OVERVIEW

TEACHING

On-site group, individual and classroom. (1982-present)

PROGRAMMING

Extensive beta-testing of various program types. Company-trained three years, including experience providing tech support by telephone and on-site. (1982-1997)

AUTHORING

Ten books (so far), How-To newsletters and many articles for Apple User Group newsletters. (1983-present)

ELECTRONIC TYPESETTING

Yellow Page ads, school curricula textbook, newsletter designs and production, various marketing pieces including brochure, catalog, flyer, etc. (1985-1993)

OTHER

• Apple Computer Retail Representative (1994-2002)
• Many different positions in Apple User Groups. (1982-present)

2. SHORT STORY VERSION

INSIGHT DATA

In 1985, Paul Rego founded Insight Data -- a Macintosh-only training, troubleshooting and consulting company.

COMPANY OBJECTIVES

To furnish services and products that support new or prospective owners of Apple computers.

My first computer was the Apple ][+ which sold for around $1700. This was back in 1981. It came standard with a whopping 48K of memory! (That's 48 "K" not 48 megabytes! That's right. Only 48,000 bytes of RAM!) The optional 16K RAM card brought its total RAM up to 64K! Hard drive?... it never had a hard drive. Everything ran off of floppies in those days.

In 1982 I began working at a new software company, Sunspot, which had created a program that ran on the Apple /// computer. The software consisted of several modules which worked together to organize radio stations. It kept track of the 'on-air' advertising and financial data -- payables, receiveables, etc. The entire package was cutting edge and sold for around $10,000.

I wasn't the "ace" programmer. I was the gopher in charge of cleaning the blackboard, emptying the trash and running errands -- I didn't even get paid for four months! Since it was a new company with no money, we agreed that I would work for free. In exchange they taught me some of the things they knew about programming! It was hard work and long hours but it was indeed a golden opportunity.

Since then I've done volunteer work in three Apple computer clubs in three different states. I've been one club's newsletter editor (for three years), Apple Ambassador and even club president.

Through my company, Insight Data, I've designed many resumés, brochures, business cards and flyers as well as Yellow-Page ads for phone books around the country. I've even self-published more than eight computer books -- the Computer Encounters series and Little Bits series -- but mostly what I do is teach. I've been teaching people how to use their Apple ][s and Macintoshes since 1982.

Currently I live in Asheville, North Carolina with my ever-helpful and patient wife Sylvia. When I'm not teaching someone how to use their Macintosh or troubleshooting someone's Mac, I'm usually sitting in front of my Macintosh -- checking for new developments in the Macintosh world, dabbling with 3D graphics software or collecting information for yet another Macintosh book.

-- Paul Rego

3. DETAILED EXPERIENCE

ELECTRONIC TYPESETTING

• Design and layout of book "Macintosh Troubleshooting Efficiency" (2007)
• Design and layout of book "Macintosh Efficiency" (2006)
• Consulting, editing and layout work on product catalog for international food company (2001-2007)
• Classified ads for local newspaper (1994-1995

TEACHING

• Macintosh Asheville Computer Society (M.A.C.S.).

• Host of 'Beginner's Corner' at meetings. Software reviewer. (1994 to present)
• HyperCard programming SIG (Special Interest Group) of M.A.C.S. (Macintosh Asheville Computer Society). A short, beginner's class on how to program in HyperCard. The result of this allowed everyone to contribute their own ideas and designs for a finished "Welcome to M.A.C.S." program -- which was distributed to all members. (1996)

• Department of Continuing Education, University of North Florida.

• Two-day PageMaker workshop. (1989)

• Classroom and individual Macintosh instruction, consulting, troubleshooting.

• A variety of Macintosh programs -- from basics to page layout. (1984 to present)

• Microage Computer Store, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Seminar/Demos of Alpha Syntauri Computer/Music System. (1982)

PROGRAMMING

• Beta tested 'Ready,Set,Go!' versions 6 & 7 (Macintosh page layout software) for Manhattan Graphics Corp. (1993 & 1994)
• Beta tested 'AppleLink Personal Edition' (online service now known as 'America Online') for Quantum Computer Services. (1988)
• Beta tested America Online version 3. (1997)
• Beta tested 'Scoop' (Macintosh page layout software) for Target Software. (1987)
• Author of two, nationally sold, "how-to" disks for Apple ][ users. (1986-1987) (see "Computer Encounters" in the "Authoring" section below)
• Apple Certified Developer of Macintosh software. (1986-1990)
• Squeak: HyperCard-based program which teaches Macintosh users how to use the mouse. (no longer available)
• ShutdownNotes: HyperCard-based program which displays a user-defined reminder whenever the Macintosh is shut down. (no longer available)
• Beta tested 'MultiScribe' (word processing software for the Apple II computer) for StyleWare, Inc. (1986)
• One of four Apple /// programmers at Sunspot, Inc. who helped write a comprehensive management program for radio stations. Also did telephone and on-site tech support. (1982-1984)

AUTHORING

• Self-published a computer resource guide. It contained contact and product information on just about every computer-related business in Albuquerque, NM. (1983)
• Self-published four computer instruction books distributed nationally. Known as the "Computer Encounter" series, these books explained the features of the Apple ][ computer. Two of them came with floppy disks which contained programs written by me. This software, along with the accompanying book, taught beginners how to program. (1986-1987)

• Computer Encounters...of the first kind:
  "What the beginner should know before buying a computer"
• Computer Encounters...of the second kind:
  "What the beginner should know after buying a computer"
• Computer Encounters...of the third kind:
  "What the beginner should know when programming the Apple ][" -- book & diskette
• Computer Encounters...of the fourth kind:
  "What the beginner should know when exploring the Apple ][" -- book & diskette

• Self-published the "Little Bits" series of computer books. (1996-1997)

• Little Bits about...
  America Online 3 for Macintosh
• Little Bits about...
  Macintosh Resources
• Little Bits about...
  How to buy a computer
• Little Bits about...
  The care and feeding of the Macintosh

• Self-published "Macintosh Efficiency" (September 2006)

• Self-published "Macintosh Troubleshooting Efficiency" (August 2007)

• Contributed computer instruction articles to Macintosh user group newsletters. (1982-present)

ELECTRONIC TYPESETTING

• Subcontractor of electronic typesetting for a photocopy company -- producing a variety of catalogs, manuals, brochures, flyers, resumés, etc. (1989-1993)
• Produced 'Yellow Page' ads for several national accounts. (1988-1989)
• Design, layout and text input of 'Fire & Fraud' newsletter for law firm. (1988)
• Design and layout of forms for First National Bank of Albuquerque.(1987-1989)
• Page layout of four student and four instructor textbooks used in a county school system. Subcontracted to the New Mexico Indian Education Association (NMIEA -- a division of the Bureau of Indian Affairs). (1985-1987)
• Published a monthly, 16-page newsletter about the Macintosh (1990)
• Self-published a monthly newsletter (called 'Pixels & Points') explaining how to use the Macintosh. (1985-1988)
• Design and layout of 16-page brochure for Byteworks, a company which created software for the Apple ][ computer.(1986)
• Design, layout, print and distribute a monthly, 16-page, Macintosh / Apple ][ newsletter for the Albuquerque computer club. (1985-1988)

OTHER

• Listed in the 22nd edition of Who's Who in the West.
• Listed in the 1990 edition of Who's Who in U.S. Executives.

• NOTE: Although I am listed in the above two publications, this does not represent any kind of award or recognition -- anyone who can fill out a form can be listed in these publications.

• Apple Computer Retail Representative for Asheville, North Carolina. (1994-1997, 1999-2003)
• President of the Applequerque Computer Club (Albuquerque, New Mexico). (1987-1988)
• Apple Ambassador to the Applequerque Computer Club (Albuquerque, New Mexico). (1985-1988)
• Product Review Coordinator and Webmaster for M.A.C.S. (Macintosh Asheville Computer Society) (1995-present), responsible for design, layout and upkeep.