Christopher Breen
 Chris has written about the Macintosh since the middle years of the Reagan administration. Currently he is a contributing editor for Macworld, a contributing editor for Equip, writes The Link, a weekly online humor/technology column for ZDTV; and is Tips Czar for Macworld Daily Tips. |
|
|
| How did you personally get into using the Macintosh family of computers? |
I have my training in music and first discovered the Mac through MIDI (the music protocal that allows computers and synthesizers to communicate). A friend showed me that with the help of the Mac and some sequencing software I create a virtual backup band. Next day I bought a Mac. | |
| Status: | The least well-known, well-known Mac guru in the magazine biz. | |
First Mac:
 |
512K | |
Current Mac:
 |
PowerTower 180e/PowerBook G3 Series 250 | |
| When did you get your first modem? | Beats me. It was a 2400 baud Supra so it wasn't purchased in the stone age. | |
| Who did you call first? | CompuServe | |
| Present Occupation: | Freelance writer/musician. | |
| Claim to Fame: | Lots of articles, coauthored The Macintosh Bible Guide To Games (1996, Peachpit Press), recorded two albums; Of Eve and Arjuna. | |
| Dream Job: | I've got both of them. |
| Not So Random Thoughts... | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Was there ever a time in your life that you had to "Think Different?" What was the situation and what did you do? | |||
| Yeah, as a devoted Mac user the first time I really had to Think Differently was when I decided that if I was going to continue to make snide remarks about PCs I ought to actually own and use one. After using a PC for a couple of years I've discovered that I wasn't nearly snide enough. | |||
| What is the weirdest thing in your office right now? | |||
| Me. | |||
| My Passions are: | |||
| Music, scuba diving, mucking about with machines, writing, food, single-malt scotch. | |||
| If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive who would that person be and what would you ask them? | |||
| Person: Beethoven Question: Now Ludwig, about the second movement of the 7th symphony...wha? Oh, I SAID, ABOUT THE SECOND MOVEMENT OF THE 7TH SYMPHONY! NO! THE SEVENTH SYMPHONY! NO, I DON'T WANT THE BUTTER, I SAID... oh, nevermind... |
|||
| When I grow up I want to be: | |||
| Cognizant enough to know it. | |||
| The question never asked: | |||
| What are the names of the provinces of Canada and what are their capitals? | |||
| Just The Facts, Please... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biographical Tidbits: | During his stint at MacUser (R.I.P.) Chris co-authored the wildly popular Help Folder column as well contributed reviews, features, news items, and funny little bits scattered throughout the magazine. | Education: | Humboldt State University, BA/Music; Three teaching credentials (Music, English, General Subjects), Early Childhood Development credential. | |
| Location at Birth: | Upside down, Stanford, CA | Current Location: | Menlo Park, CA | |
| Where you've been in between: |
Menlo Park, Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Arcata, San Francisco | Astrological Sign: | Yield | |
| Available? | Forget it Ilene, I'm married.... [We had to tell Chris he was voted the best most unavailble man in the Mac industry in a Talk City chat. Ed.] | Chat Nick: | CBreen | |
| Favorite Books: | Anything from the sweet spot of P.G. Wodehouse (1918-1935), Catch-22, short stories of Somerset Maugham | Favorite Music or Band: | Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Paul Hindemith, Pete Townsend, Peter Gabriel, Wilson Pickett, James Brown | |
| Favorite Food: | Pasta with just about anything. | Cat or Dog Person: | Cat. | |
Created Thursday, September 3, 1998; Edited: 2/21/99