Dennis O'Reilly, J.D.

No matter the assignment or topic, two principles guide Dennis’ writing: being fair to vendors and being honest with readers. Business decision makers can trust that they will find an unbiased and thorough evaluation of each product and service Dennis writes about. And in his more than 30 years as a tech writer, Dennis has written about thousands of them: from multifunction printers to ERP solutions.

Dennis knows what’s on the line when a company makes a tech buying decision. Choosing the best option for its unique needs requires timely and complete information, including the pros and cons of various options. When Dennis evaluates a product, he does his best to test it in real-world situations to ensure it functions as advertised.

In addition to working as a senior associate editor for PCWorld and technical editor for the Windows Secrets newsletter, Dennis has owned and operated his own small business, so he’s lived through the ups and downs of starting and managing a company. His career changed trajectory in 2010 when he enrolled in law school. He was sworn into the State Bar of California in 2017 and has provided pro bono legal services for nonprofit organizations since then.

Dennis has dedicated his career to helping people make the most of the technology in their lives. From the earliest PC communications software to today’s phone apps and AI-powered business services, he explains how organizations and individuals can apply digital tools in ways that enhance their professional and personal lives.

Tech vendors deserve a fair shake when their products and services are put to the test, just as readers deserve a comprehensive and honest assessment of the tech tools they rely on. Dennis is committed to helping service providers find the right audience for their products. Whatever tools your company uses, his goal is to help you realize peak value for your investments in technology.

Other Publications

• USA TODAY, “Best Applicant Tracking Systems”
• U.S. News & World Report, “Best Virtual Mailbox Services”
• DATAVERSITY, “The Growing Importance of AI Governance”

Bulleted Highlight list

• Creator and author of CNET’s Workers’ Edge blog
• Senior associate editor at PCWorld in charge of the Here’s How section and how-to features
• Technical editor of the Windows Secrets newsletter that had 1 million paid subscribers and 4 million free subscribers
• Founding editor of Ziff Davis’ Computer Select CD-ROM database offering indexes and abstracts of hundreds of computer and technology journals

Education

• University of Michigan (B.A., Linguistics)
• Empire College School of Law (M.L.S. and J.D.)

Volunteer Work

• Foreperson of the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury, 2007–2008
• Co-founder of the Former Grand Jurors Association of Sonoma County, 2009–2017
• Pro bono attorney for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa assisting with criminal expungements, 2017–2020
• Pro bono attorney for Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento working with the Western States Pension Assistance Project, 2018–2019

Professional Memberships

• State Bar of California
• Society of Professional Journalists