William "Bill" Machrone passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 30 at his home with his family by his side. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Sharon and children Stephanie Machrone of Owings Mills, MD and Andrew Machrone of Scotch Plains, NJ.
Originally from Union, NJ, Bill was the son of the late Josephine and Bert Machrone. After graduating from Union High School in 1964, Bill attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning a B.A. in English ion 1968. He was employed in human resources management positions at Bamberger's, Microwave Semi-Conductor, RCA and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of NJ (now Horizon).
With an avid interest in electronic and computers, Bill made a career shift to the information technology field in the late 1970's. He was employed by Information Sciences in Montvale, NJ and then moved on to co--found Sales Productivity Systems. At the same time Bill built his own first personal computer and he started writing freelance articles for Microsystems magazine, which later sold to Ziff Davis. Ziff Davis employed Bill as a freelancer, and he was quickly named technical editor of PC Magazine in March 1983. By September, he became Editor-in-Chief and held that position for the next eight years, while adding the titles of publisher and publishing director. During his tenure, Bill created the tough, labs-based comparison reviews that propelled PC Magazine to the forefront of the industry and made it the seventh-largest magazine in the United States. He pioneered numerous other innovations that have become standards in computer journalism, such as Service and Reliability Surveys, free utility software, benchmark tests, Suitability to Task ratings, and price/performance charts. Bill also founded PC Magazine Labs and created the online service PC MagNet, which later expanded into ZDNet. In 1991, when Bill was appointed vice president of technology, he founded ZD Labs in Foster City, California which did testing for most of the other Ziff Davis publications. He also worked on the launch team for Corporate Computing magazine, was the founding editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, was editor-in-chief of the online magazine Extreme Tech and worked on several other development projects in conventional as well as electronic publishing. Along the way, Bill continued to write a column for PC Magazine until 2007, at which point it was the longest-running column in the magazine's history.
After Ziff Davis, Bill continued to write for PC Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Wired.com, Progressive Insurance, Toshiba, Intel, and other clients. Most recently, Bill merged his loves of music and electronics by founding and managing, along with his son, BillM Audio. He invented and installed guitar amplifier modifications and improvements to Fender's popular Blues Junior and Super Champ XD amplifiers. He and Andrew developed a customer base throughout the U.S. and the world. Enjoyed working with professional and amateur musicians to "find the right sound."
Bill was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Scotch Plains. Over the years he served in many leadership roles in the church, including council chair and finance chair, and was a dedicated member of the church choir. He installed the church's first computer. For years he led the music portion of the children's Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. He was also a member of the Starlite Chorale.
Originally from Union, NJ, Bill was the son of the late Josephine and Bert Machrone. After graduating from Union High School in 1964, Bill attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning a B.A. in English ion 1968. He was employed in human resources management positions at Bamberger's, Microwave Semi-Conductor, RCA and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of NJ (now Horizon).
With an avid interest in electronic and computers, Bill made a career shift to the information technology field in the late 1970's. He was employed by Information Sciences in Montvale, NJ and then moved on to co--found Sales Productivity Systems. At the same time Bill built his own first personal computer and he started writing freelance articles for Microsystems magazine, which later sold to Ziff Davis. Ziff Davis employed Bill as a freelancer, and he was quickly named technical editor of PC Magazine in March 1983. By September, he became Editor-in-Chief and held that position for the next eight years, while adding the titles of publisher and publishing director. During his tenure, Bill created the tough, labs-based comparison reviews that propelled PC Magazine to the forefront of the industry and made it the seventh-largest magazine in the United States. He pioneered numerous other innovations that have become standards in computer journalism, such as Service and Reliability Surveys, free utility software, benchmark tests, Suitability to Task ratings, and price/performance charts. Bill also founded PC Magazine Labs and created the online service PC MagNet, which later expanded into ZDNet. In 1991, when Bill was appointed vice president of technology, he founded ZD Labs in Foster City, California which did testing for most of the other Ziff Davis publications. He also worked on the launch team for Corporate Computing magazine, was the founding editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, was editor-in-chief of the online magazine Extreme Tech and worked on several other development projects in conventional as well as electronic publishing. Along the way, Bill continued to write a column for PC Magazine until 2007, at which point it was the longest-running column in the magazine's history.
After Ziff Davis, Bill continued to write for PC Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Wired.com, Progressive Insurance, Toshiba, Intel, and other clients. Most recently, Bill merged his loves of music and electronics by founding and managing, along with his son, BillM Audio. He invented and installed guitar amplifier modifications and improvements to Fender's popular Blues Junior and Super Champ XD amplifiers. He and Andrew developed a customer base throughout the U.S. and the world. Enjoyed working with professional and amateur musicians to "find the right sound."
Bill was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Scotch Plains. Over the years he served in many leadership roles in the church, including council chair and finance chair, and was a dedicated member of the church choir. He installed the church's first computer. For years he led the music portion of the children's Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. He was also a member of the Starlite Chorale.
William "Bill" Machrone passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 30 at his home with his family by his side. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Sharon and children Stephanie Machrone of Owings Mills, MD and Andrew Machrone of Scotch Plains, NJ.
Originally from Union, NJ, Bill was the son of the late Josephine and Bert Machrone. After graduating from Union High School in 1964, Bill attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning a B.A. in English ion 1968. He was employed in human resources management positions at Bamberger's, Microwave Semi-Conductor, RCA and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of NJ (now Horizon).
With an avid interest in electronic and computers, Bill made a career shift to the information technology field in the late 1970's. He was employed by Information Sciences in Montvale, NJ and then moved on to co--found Sales Productivity Systems. At the same time Bill built his own first personal computer and he started writing freelance articles for Microsystems magazine, which later sold to Ziff Davis. Ziff Davis employed Bill as a freelancer, and he was quickly named technical editor of PC Magazine in March 1983. By September, he became Editor-in-Chief and held that position for the next eight years, while adding the titles of publisher and publishing director. During his tenure, Bill created the tough, labs-based comparison reviews that propelled PC Magazine to the forefront of the industry and made it the seventh-largest magazine in the United States. He pioneered numerous other innovations that have become standards in computer journalism, such as Service and Reliability Surveys, free utility software, benchmark tests, Suitability to Task ratings, and price/performance charts. Bill also founded PC Magazine Labs and created the online service PC MagNet, which later expanded into ZDNet. In 1991, when Bill was appointed vice president of technology, he founded ZD Labs in Foster City, California which did testing for most of the other Ziff Davis publications. He also worked on the launch team for Corporate Computing magazine, was the founding editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, was editor-in-chief of the online magazine Extreme Tech and worked on several other development projects in conventional as well as electronic publishing. Along the way, Bill continued to write a column for PC Magazine until 2007, at which point it was the longest-running column in the magazine's history.
After Ziff Davis, Bill continued to write for PC Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Wired.com, Progressive Insurance, Toshiba, Intel, and other clients. Most recently, Bill merged his loves of music and electronics by founding and managing, along with his son, BillM Audio. He invented and installed guitar amplifier modifications and improvements to Fender's popular Blues Junior and Super Champ XD amplifiers. He and Andrew developed a customer base throughout the U.S. and the world. Enjoyed working with professional and amateur musicians to "find the right sound."
Bill was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Scotch Plains. Over the years he served in many leadership roles in the church, including council chair and finance chair, and was a dedicated member of the church choir. He installed the church's first computer. For years he led the music portion of the children's Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. He was also a member of the Starlite Chorale.
Originally from Union, NJ, Bill was the son of the late Josephine and Bert Machrone. After graduating from Union High School in 1964, Bill attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning a B.A. in English ion 1968. He was employed in human resources management positions at Bamberger's, Microwave Semi-Conductor, RCA and Blue Cross-Blue Shield of NJ (now Horizon).
With an avid interest in electronic and computers, Bill made a career shift to the information technology field in the late 1970's. He was employed by Information Sciences in Montvale, NJ and then moved on to co--found Sales Productivity Systems. At the same time Bill built his own first personal computer and he started writing freelance articles for Microsystems magazine, which later sold to Ziff Davis. Ziff Davis employed Bill as a freelancer, and he was quickly named technical editor of PC Magazine in March 1983. By September, he became Editor-in-Chief and held that position for the next eight years, while adding the titles of publisher and publishing director. During his tenure, Bill created the tough, labs-based comparison reviews that propelled PC Magazine to the forefront of the industry and made it the seventh-largest magazine in the United States. He pioneered numerous other innovations that have become standards in computer journalism, such as Service and Reliability Surveys, free utility software, benchmark tests, Suitability to Task ratings, and price/performance charts. Bill also founded PC Magazine Labs and created the online service PC MagNet, which later expanded into ZDNet. In 1991, when Bill was appointed vice president of technology, he founded ZD Labs in Foster City, California which did testing for most of the other Ziff Davis publications. He also worked on the launch team for Corporate Computing magazine, was the founding editor of Yahoo! Internet Life, was editor-in-chief of the online magazine Extreme Tech and worked on several other development projects in conventional as well as electronic publishing. Along the way, Bill continued to write a column for PC Magazine until 2007, at which point it was the longest-running column in the magazine's history.
After Ziff Davis, Bill continued to write for PC Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Wired.com, Progressive Insurance, Toshiba, Intel, and other clients. Most recently, Bill merged his loves of music and electronics by founding and managing, along with his son, BillM Audio. He invented and installed guitar amplifier modifications and improvements to Fender's popular Blues Junior and Super Champ XD amplifiers. He and Andrew developed a customer base throughout the U.S. and the world. Enjoyed working with professional and amateur musicians to "find the right sound."
Bill was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Scotch Plains. Over the years he served in many leadership roles in the church, including council chair and finance chair, and was a dedicated member of the church choir. He installed the church's first computer. For years he led the music portion of the children's Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. He was also a member of the Starlite Chorale.
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