How a Magazine Once So Thick It Required Square Binding Became a Digital Powerhouse
In short: Born in 1982 to guide early IBM PC users, this publication grew so massive that it eventually transitioned to a biweekly schedule to manage its hundreds of pages. Today, it has shed its print legacy to focus entirely on the fast-paced world of modern consumer electronics and digital reviews.
Founded by David Bunnell, Jim Edlin, and Cheryl Woodard, the publication—originally titled PC: The Independent Guide to the IBM Personal Computer—launched in early 1982. Its rapid growth was fueled by the burgeoning personal computing market and a business plan developed at Lifeboat Associates. By the time it reached its third issue, the magazine had become so substantial that it required square binding rather than standard saddle-stitching. This physical expansion continued until the publication reached 800 pages in a single issue, prompting a shift to a biweekly release schedule in 1984.
The publication became famous for its rigorous approach to hardware and software evaluation. In 1986, it established PC Labs at its New York headquarters, one of the first formal testing facilities in the industry. This lab allowed editors to conduct massive, data-driven comparative reviews, such as testing nearly one hundred printers for a single edition. Under the guidance of early editors like Bill Machrone, the magazine maintained a strict editorial philosophy: if content did not directly evaluate products or enhance professional productivity, it did not belong in the pages.
As the internet made traditional computer magazines less essential and advertising markets contracted, the publication faced significant shifts. Print circulation, which had reached a high of 1.2 million readers during the late 1990s, dwindled to roughly 600,000 by 2008, leading to the discontinuation of the print edition that year. The brand pivoted to a digital-first model, eventually ending its print-like digital issues in 2022. Today, under leadership like editor-in-chief Wendy Sheehan Donnell, the platform covers a broad spectrum of consumer technology, ranging from smart home devices and gaming to health and fitness gadgets, proving its ability to evolve alongside the industry it once helped define.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: PCMag
- Also: Wikidata — PCMag · CC0
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