Gordon Mah Ung, PCWorld editor and famend {hardware} journalist, dies at 58

PCWorld government editor Gordon Mah Ung, a tireless journalist we as soon as described as a founding father of hardcore tech journalism, handed away over the weekend after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic most cancers. Gordon was 58, and leaves behind a loving spouse, two kids, older sister, and mom.

With greater than 25 years’ expertise overlaying laptop tech broadly and laptop chips particularly, Gordon’s dogged reporting, one-of-a-kind persona, and dedication to journalistic requirements touched many, many lives. He will likely be profoundly missed by co-workers, business sources, and the PC fans who learn his phrases and adopted him as a video creator.

Gordon studied journalism at San Francisco State College after which labored as a police reporter for the Contra Costa Occasions within the late Nineties. In 1997, he joined Computerworld (a PCWorld sister publication) earlier than I recruited him to hitch boot journal (later re-launched as Most PC), the place he would in the end lead {hardware} protection for 16 years.

At Most PC, Gordon developed his trademark voice that blended a hardcore ardour for PC tech with non-sequiturs, deadpan humor, and occasional bursts of concern. As a really early podcaster within the tech area, Gordon’s “Rant of the Week” phase on the Most PC pod turned so legendary, somebody made a soundboard of his finest sound bytes. (Warning: It may well get a bit NSFW within the most interesting Gordon custom.) As I listened to his rants from my workplace, he at all times had me guessing, “Is he actually that offended, or is he enjoying us?”

And that was a part of Gordon’s genius. His primary dedication was to investigating the story, informing the general public, and serving to folks make the perfect expertise choices. However layered on prime of all of this was a grasp showman who effortlessly related with like-minded fans.

Throughout a lot of his time at Most PC, Gordon was the lead designer, builder and dreamer behind the journal’s annual Dream Machine mission, which entailed creating probably the most outrageous, high-performing PC potential. All through these constructing endeavors, he cemented his relationships with Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and different {hardware} producers too quite a few to say.

Gordon’s purpose was to get the most recent, finest, most high-performing elements earlier than anybody else. And it didn’t finish with CPUs and GPUs. If a chunk of expertise went right into a PC construct, Gordon had an encyclopedic information about all of it—reminiscence, storage, PSUs, circumstances, cooling, and past.

Gordon was additionally the unnamed writer of Most PC’s consumer-advocate “Watchdog” column. Because the mysterious Watchdog, Gordon responded to reader complaints about fly-by-night corporations and failing merchandise, and utilized all his investigative expertise to assist readers attain a decision. It was an ideal merger of client service, deep reporting and tech smarts that solely Gordon might personal.

Form of like Star Trek’s Scotty who most well-liked sticking to his technical manuals, Gordon resisted taking the helm of Most PC, however ultimately agreed to change into Editor-in-Chief in 2014. Flash ahead to later that 12 months, once I as soon as once more requested for his assist—this time to hitch PCWorld as government editor answerable for {hardware}.

At PCWorld, Gordon instantly started imprinting his information and persona on our articles and video. His deep-dive CPU evaluations had been epic, and continued a legacy of no-BS chip protection that nonetheless earned the belief and respect of the businesses he coated. A few of his first segues into video took the type of our Hardcore {Hardware} collection the place he married his deep wealth of information with trademark Gordon theatrics.

Nevertheless it wasn’t till we launched The Full Nerd video podcast in 2016, and set Gordon unfastened on many extra video codecs, did he come full circle as a creator. Because the host of The Full Nerd, Gordon was in a position to ship all his information and evaluation at a a lot quicker tempo—and in the event you’ve seen The Full Nerd, you understand simply how a lot he liked every part the PC scene has to supply.

By way of his expanded presence on The Full Nerd, Gordon developed deep relationships with not solely different YouTube creators, but in addition with devoted followers. You can virtually hear his fan base cheering him on through the feedback feed throughout stay exhibits. I’ve typically thought that the best way Gordon shared his reporting in print and on podcasts served as mannequin for what PC {hardware} YouTube would change into—unapologetically nerdy, opinionated, and stuffed with perspective. However Gordon at all times delivered an important further component: a legit journalism background and all of the rigor it entails.

Gordon continued to shoot video and seem on The Full Nerd till weeks earlier than his loss of life. Speak about a dedication to beat protection. He was following the story to the very finish.

I met Gordon in journalism college and spent a variety of time with him within the trenches—sharing cubicle areas, and listening to him riff. I’ll bear in mind his limitless debates with co-workers (his bob-and-weave rhetorical model was as maddening because it was entertaining). I’ll bear in mind his two-hour lengthy cellphone interviews with sources (he interrogated them like a professional, however performed the lengthy recreation in cultivating belief). I’ll bear in mind his reliability in at all times asking concerning the TPS stories when some bureaucratic e mail landed in our inboxes. I’ll bear in mind him slyly trolling me by calling the collection “Star Monitor” although I’m 99 % certain he knew that’s not the way it’s pronounced.

He might need been the employees curmudgeon, however he was additionally our most enjoyable co-worker, bar none.

I’ve lengthy held this romantic notion, perhaps foolishly, that journalists are immortalized by their canon. And of all of the tech journalists I’ve personally identified, nobody has a deeper canon, and has touched extra followers, and has earned extra respect from business heavyweights than Gordon. From his earliest days on Most PC to his final days on PCWorld and the Full Nerd, Gordon touched folks in a means I simply haven’t seen anyplace else. He’s leaving a gaping gap within the hearts of those that liked him, however what he’s given us lives endlessly. – Jon Phillips, editorial director, PCWorld

Gordon’s household has launched a GoFundMe to assist cowl medical bills. Please donate to them in the event you can.

Gordon Mah Ung, remembered

Listed here are extra reflections from those that knew Gordon nicely. When you’d prefer to share some ideas on what Gordon meant to you, please e mail Brad Chacos, PCWorld government editor, at bchacos@pcworld.com. Sadly, we will be unable so as to add all submissions to this text.

‘The journalist and particular person I needed to be once I develop up.’

Right here’s one thing Gordon by no means knew. He was the beacon for my profession earlier than I even had my profession. I used to be born within the early 80s. I used to be a wide-eyed teen when Gordon was blazing trails in boot and Most PC within the late 90s. This was my introduction to fanatic PC tradition, lengthy earlier than the Web exploded.

After spending years unloading vans and dealing in factories, I finally took the plunge into tech journalism. I had $2,000 within the financial institution and a 6-month-old daughter, however I needed to do what Gordon did. I floor out limitless $15 articles on a content material farm known as Demand Media. I used to be ultimately added to the tech vertical, which Salon syndicated. And people Salon clips received me a contract gig with Most PC’s nascent Internet Weblog. YES!

The primary time I received an e mail from Gordon with insights on one thing I used to be engaged on, I swooned—and listened, and hustled. Finally I used to be lucky sufficient to work alongside Gordon at PCWorld, then change into his co-host on The Full Nerd, and loooong after that, his boss. (WUT!) I realized a lot from him. Gordon at all times remained my inspiration; the journalist and particular person I needed to be once I develop up. He nonetheless is.

He by no means knew that. I want he did, as a result of Gordon actually modified my life. Comply with within the footsteps of greatness, youngsters. And Gordon was the GOAT. — Brad Chacos, PCWorld government editor and Gordon Mah Ung stan

Brad was Gordon’s co-host on The Full Nerd podcast and wrote a separate article remembering his favourite episode — a masterclass in what made Gordon Gordon.

‘He remembered who got here earlier than him, and created area for many who would observe’

I’ll write for a residing, however I can’t do justice to Gordon in phrases. However I do know he would nudge me, as he at all times has, to go for it. See the place it takes me.

PC constructing is what led me to cross paths with Gordon—I first met him whereas sneaking peeks on the wild and great PC builds on the opposite aspect of my cubical wall. On the time, I used to be a video video games journalist, overlaying a platform I’d later get mercilessly razzed about on The Full Nerd.

However I preferred tech, and I preferred studying about PC {hardware}. It was a trait that Gordon inspired, nurtured, and reworked into a whole new department of my profession. Gordon was the form of man who did that casually, too. His profound love for PC {hardware} made him open and beneficiant, at all times actively protecting seats open on the desk for others. He remembered who got here earlier than him, and created area for many who would observe him.

In each capability I’ve identified him—boss, mentor, colleague—he taught me to remain humble, lead with curiosity, and stay honest in protection. Mixed together with his laser-sharp precision and evaluation, his instance endlessly motivates me to suppose deeply and thoughtfully. The business is not going to be the identical with out him. —Alaina Yee, PCWorld senior editor and Most PC alumni

‘He welcomed me in and let me know I belonged’

Newsrooms entice characters. Misfits, hopeless optimists, unrepentent goofballs, anti-establishment varieties, lovable weirdos, and willful contrarians. Gordon was all of these issues, however most of all, he was variety.

He was at all times first in line to assist a pal in want. When there was an emergency, he ran towards it. I don’t suppose he was a Boy Scout, however he was at all times ready.

Once I was the brand new man at Most PC, I knew all about computer systems and nothing about magazines. Gordon didn’t care. He welcomed me in and let me know I belonged there. He answered all of my stupidest questions, helped me once I wanted assist, and let me make errors once I wanted to mess up. And he made certain that all of us received into good bother on the reg.

He taught me that our job, as editors, is at all times to serve the reader. It didn’t matter that advertisers paid the payments; the individuals who trusted us to offer them recommendation and steerage had been at all times our primary precedence. It was his guideline and he lived it each day. He was by no means afraid of talking fact to energy in service of the reader. And he taught so many younger journalists to do the identical.

I already miss my pal terribly, however I’m profoundly grateful that I received to share a small a part of his journey with him. The world is a worse place with out him. —Will Smith, Full Nerd common and former Most PC editor-in-chief

‘Gordon was at all times on the heart of it’

I hardly must checklist Gordon’s many nice attributes—he was a beloved legend within the PC group for a cause. However I’m amongst a smaller quantity of people that had the privilege of working with him daily on a staff, first at Most PC after which PCWorld. Regardless of being a larger-than-life determine for each of these manufacturers, Gordon was the consummate staff member—at all times prepared to patiently clarify one thing, at all times right down to riff and collaborate, at all times variety and respectful of others. He appeared to genuinely thrive on the group effort.

My favourite work recollections are of the Most PC bullpen the place the employees would banter and snigger seemingly all day—it’s wonderful we ever received something executed. Gordon was at all times on the heart of it. He was a very excellent particular person who I’m proud to have labored with and know as a pal. —Katherine Stevenson, PCWorld managing editor and Most PC alumni

‘Gordon was the newsiest nerd I’ve ever identified’

It’s honest to say Gordon helped outline what PCWorld is immediately, from our mission to particularly our voice. I grew up in a newsroom, and Gordon was the newsiest nerd I’ve ever identified: completely devoted to depth, accuracy, and context, however with a cynical, collegial humorousness. He additionally cared deeply about understanding how tech labored and unearthing its deep, darkish secrets and techniques that producers glossed over. The person merely liked his job. All of us liked him. – Mark Hachman, senior editor, PCWorld

‘We’re lucky to have had somebody so real combating for us’

Gordon Mah Ung is an irreplaceable power of fine for this business and for shoppers. His background in police reporting and journalism afforded a robust basis to his work and a novel perspective not discovered anyplace else within the laptop reporting enterprise. Like many others, Gordon’s work in Most PC impressed me lengthy earlier than I used to be ever within the business.

Gordon and I received alongside from day one, and I’ll endlessly maintain his perspective in thoughts. His presence at occasions will likely be significantly missed. Gordon Mah Ung has lengthy been my favourite co-host in movies for his “actual” demeanor and his candor; he’s precisely who he presents himself as on digicam, and we’re lucky to have had somebody so real combating for us on this business. Gordon, thanks for every part you have got taught me, and thanks for unwaveringly searching for shoppers. —Steve Burke, editor-in-chief, GamersNexus

‘If Gordon praised my system, it felt like I’d received an Oscar’

Gordon reviewed our PCs for 25 years, and he has written extra variety phrases about my firm than anybody. It’s a bittersweet honor to supply a couple of phrases about Gordon in return.

For the primary decade I knew Gordon, I realized little about him personally. He was like a take a look at we needed to move. At Most PC, he was the final word authority on whether or not the techniques we had been constructing had been value anybody shopping for. If Gordon praised my system, it felt like I’d received an Oscar. However he by no means let a missed element get by him, and attempting to impress Gordon has change into a relentless of my profession. I’d not be the place I’m immediately with out Gordon’s approval.

However over time I used to be lucky sufficient to get to know Gordon a bit personally. I at all times felt privileged when he’d name me for lengthy off-the-record talks concerning the newest PC business intrigue, and we’d inevitably tangent off to speaking about Aliens or Star Trek, or “the youngsters constructing PCs nowadays who don’t know the way simple they’ve it.” Gordon was a kindred spirit: an O.G. sci-fi and laptop nerd who liked tech, and at all times remembered the purpose of the passion was having enjoyable with cool toys.

However the largest impression he made on me was when he and his household stopped by my store a couple of years in the past. Such great folks, and I used to be so impressed by his kids: variety, good and humorous—precisely whom you’d anticipate Gordon to have made the world higher with. Assembly them, I realized his legacy was not simply in what he wrote, however in who he taught, and who he liked. Thanks, Gordon.—Kelt Reeves, Falcon Northwest

‘A very inquisitive journalist, he sought the tales behind the tales’

Most of us know Gordon as a long-time tech journalist, as probably the greatest and probably the most passionate within the business. Gordon was a very inquisitive journalist, he sought the tales behind the tales by taking an actual curiosity within the merchandise, corporations, and the folks behind them. 

I used to be fortunate sufficient to know Gordon as a pal. We checked-in typically with each other. I’d ask about his well being, and he would ask about my flying. Often, we’d discuss business updates however most of our conversations had been about household, associates, life, and the issues that matter most. He was so happy with his household, not too way back sending me Halloween Ghostbusters pics and the wonderful pictures his son took at an air present final 12 months. I’ll miss our conversations and my pal. He was probably the greatest and endlessly will likely be. —Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Options, AMD, and Alienware co-founder

‘Any good work I do displays at the very least partially on Gordon’

When you’ve ever executed analysis on something technical, chances are high you’ve learn one thing Gordon wrote. His eager mind and razor-sharp wit helped him join the dots on each the expertise and the folks that make up our trendy world. His expertise for investigation was honed over an extended and storied profession; he was a power in our business. I’ll miss his recommendation and perception, as I’m certain will many others.

Usually one can infer loads about an individual from their writing, and whereas I’m certain a sort reasonableness comes by way of clearly in Gordon’s writing, his was a sort of kindness and persistence that’s exceedingly uncommon. Gordon at all times liked to speak, discover out what you had been as much as, and was at all times variety and considerate. Whereas his writing and insights have change into part of computing historical past, any good work I do displays at the very least partially on Gordon due to his optimistic influences. So, in that means, he’ll stay on within the work of others.

I’ll endlessly have fond recollections of our many chats, and whereas I’d love to have only one extra chat, I’m grateful that he’s in a position to relaxation for some time. —Wendell Wilson, Level1Techs

‘Gordon was uncannily expert at demystifying advanced expertise’

Gordon Mah Ung wasn’t simply probably the most gifted tech journalist of his era; he was probably the greatest tech journalists of all time. Brutally trustworthy, but eminently humble, Gordon was uncannily expert at demystifying advanced expertise for readers of each stripe. Each in writing and through stay podcasts, Gordon schooled and entertained us together with his depraved humorousness. – Michael Brown, government editor, TechHive and boot journal alumni

Writer: Jon Phillips, Editorial Director, North America