Definition: PCMag

(PC Magazine) A technology portal published by Ziff Davis. PCMag is known for in-depth reviews of hardware and software, industry analysis, how-to guides and product testing. It is the online version of what was originally PC Magazine, one of the first print publications dedicated to the IBM PC. Launched in 1982 as PC Guide and renamed soon after, PC Magazine quickly led the PC publishing market and was a major contributor to the PC industry. See IBM PC.

In the 1980s, people were thrilled to have their very own computer, and the industry was exploding. PC Magazine had plenty of content; the December 1983 issue was so thick it had to be glued like a book. However, the PCMag website was launched in 1994 and the world began to move online. After 27 years, the printed version ceased in 2009.

PC Labs
A product evaluation and testing department was created in 1986 at New York headquarters to rate computers and peripherals. See PC Magazine benchmarks and Ziff Davis.

First Three Issues of PC Magazine

All the magazine covers from 1982 to 2009 are available on the PCMag.com website, and the content is available from the Google Books Archive. These were the first three issues. (Images courtesy of Ziff Davis.)