• Tag Archives PC World

  • PC World (September 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – September 1985

    PC World was one of the most popular PC specific magazines from the 1980s through the 1990s and beyond. I didn’t even have my Commodore 64 yet it 1985 but if I had a PC, I probably would have been getting this magazine. The September 1985 issue includes:

    Getting Started

    • Theory PC – The difficulty of communication via PC and how to make the PC universal.
    • From Here to Mainframe (and Back) – How to use a PC to communicate with a mainframe.

    Community

    • The PC as Innovator – The quantum leap in productivity that the PC offers as well as its economic potential.
    • Copying Software: Who’s Right? – PC World readers chime in on software piracy.
    • Cautious Capital – Where venture capitalist are putting their money in the context of the personal computer shakeout following the frenzy of 1981-1983.

    Review

    • The Personal Connection – How computers have gone from being seen as rather Orwellian (perhaps still an accurate view) to fundamental tools of social communion.
    • Reflex: Analysis With Finese – A review of Reflex from Analytica, a software data analysis software package inspired by Lotus 1-2-3 and the Macintosh.
    • Ready to Run Accounting – Ready-to-Run Accounting is a general ledger template for Lotus 1-2-3 and offers an inexpensive accounting solution.
    • Enable: Compact and Capable – A five function integrated software package that includes word processing, spreadsheet, data management, graphics, and telecommunications components.
    • And the Word Is Good – Verson 2.0 of Microsoft Word.

    State of the Art

    • Asimov Ponders PCs – Sci-Fi author Isaac Asimov writes about the increasing intelligence of computers.
    • Experts on Call – Expert Systems provide solutions or predictions based on facts.

    Hand On

    • A Model for Peaceful Coexistence – The PC’s place in corporations.
    • Dress Up Your Documents – Creating fancy documents with the typesetting capabilities of word processing software like Microsoft Word and WordStar and laser printers.
    • A New Way to Frame Projects – Using Frameword o set up a simple scheduling system.

    Departments

    • David Bunnell – Proof that unauthorized copies of software (i.e. pirated copies) sell software.
    • Ken Greenberg – The PC’s trend towards business applications.
    • John C. Dvorak – Dvorak ponders whether the computer books and bookstores and software distribution channels is a dying trend. I remember buying Ace of Aces for my Commodore 64 at a Waldenbooks…
    • Letters – Readers write in about mainframes, the virtual device interface, data management software, and more.
    • PC World View – How Vannevar Bush predicted the personal computer in something he called the “memex”; probate software; new PC clones; and more.
    • The Help Screen – Tips for automatic plotting, converting LaserJet escape codes into DOS commands, transferring text files from the Apple II to the PC; and more.
    • From the Software Shelf – PC World’s first impressions of software including Executive Writer/Executive Filer, The Art of Negotiating, TallScreen, and pfs:access.
    • Password: Communicate – On-line queries using Dialog vs. gateway services; the fallout from a Los Angeles BBS operator getting charged for having a stolen telephone-credit card number on his BBS; Hayes starts selling Smartmodem 1200 in the U.K.

    …and more!


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  • PC World (February 1991)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – February 1991

    By the early 1990s, PCs were being rapidly adopted though it would still be a few more years until the Internet came into widespread use. When AOL started providing web access in 1995 is probably a good metric for that. PC World was certainly one of the most popular PC magazines at the time and in 1991, 486 based PCs were around but 386 (and lower) were still much more common. The February 1991 issue of PC World includes:

    Cover Stories

    • Excel 3.0: The Push-Button Spreadsheet – A preview of the latest version of Excel. Some new features of Excel 3.0 include a new tool bar, hierarchical worksheets, drawing tools, and more.
    • Laptops in Living Color – A preview of a few upcoming laptops with color screens including the Sharp Colorstar featuring a 20-MHz 386 CPU, 100MB hard drive, and 256 color VGA screen for between $10,000 and $15,000 and the Toshiba T3200SXC featuring 20-MHz 386SX CPU, 120MB hard drive, and 256 color VGA screen for $9000. Those color screens weren’t cheap then.
    • Value Alert! 20-MHz 386SX Systems – Reviews of the latest batch of 20-MHz 386 based computers including the ALR Powerflex 20CSX ($3600), AST Premium II 386/20 ($3528), Compaq Deskpro 386x/20 ($4279), Dell 320LX ($3659), NCR PC386sx20 ($3547), and NEC PowerMate SX/20 ($3635). Typical specs included 4-5MB of RAM, 100-120MB hard drive and VGA graphics.
    • Personal Laser Printers: Looking Better All The Time – Reviews of the latest laser printers including the Brother HL-4 ($1381), HP LaserJet IIP ($1493), IBM LaserPrinter E ($1500), Okidata OL400 LED Page Printer ($994), Panasonic KX-P4420 Laser Printer ($1334), and Tandy LP 950 ($2199).

    Special Report

    • Windows – A special supplement on windowing environments and applications.
    • The Windows-Mac Connection – A look at GE’s experience getting Macintoshes and Windows based PCs working together.
    • Reviews – Reviews of The DeskTop Set 3.0, Spinnaker Plus 2.0, Ashlar Vellum for MS-DOS With Windows 3.0, PerForm Pro Designer and Filler, Distinct Back-Up 2.0, Command Port 7.0, and Windows Workstation Release 3.

    News

    • Top of the News – 16-ppm laser printers hit the market, CD-ROM and erasable optical technologies arrive, IBM introduces the luggable PS/2 Model P75 featuring a 33-MHz 486 CPU and 8MB of RAM for $16000, and more.
    • Industry Outlook – IBM and Tandy back new multimedia standards with better audio and CD-ROM drives coming to PCs soon, cheaper laser printers on the way, 9600bps modems gaining ground, Macintosh introduces low cost LC model to tempt PC users, and more.
    • Product Outlook – A look at new and upcoming products including the AST Premiu Exec 386SX/20 and 286/12 notebook models, Howtek Personal Color Printer, Control Point Backup, Crosstalk Communicator 1.0, Zeos 286 Notebook, Tandy 2810 HD, Toshiba T2000SX, and lots more.

    Previews

    • PageMaker Tries Harder – A preview of PageMaker 4.0 desktop pubishing software.
    • ccMail Meets Windows – A preview of cc:Mail for Windows 1.0 e-mail package.

    Features

    • Taming the Telephone – What contact management software can do for you.
    • Buyers’ Guide: Management Software – A guide to numerous contact management tools including Act 2.0, Contact Professional 2.4, The Desktop Set 3.0, Performer 2.01, Tracker 4.0, and many others.
    • The WordPerfect Office – Communications and file-sharing functions for users of WordPerfect products.

    How To

    • The Help Screen – Questions answered about duplicating fields in Paradox 3.0, end of the month macros for spreadsheets, and more.
    • Network Q&A – Questions answered about fault tolerance, including disk mirroring and duplicating.
    • Windows Walk-Through – The basics of using Windows.
    • Words Into Print – Automatic footnoting with WordPerfect.
    • Spreadsheets (A…Z) – Graphing spreadsheet data with Lotus 1-2-3 version 2.x.
    • Data Basics – Adding titles and column headings to database reports.
    • The Art of Persuasion – Choosing the best typefaces for business documents.
    • The Information Edge – Tips for getting the best value out of GEnie’s off-hour services.

    Departments

    • Richard Landry – The new Windows craze.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about accounting software, installing Windows 3.0, tech support, shareware, and more.
    • Consumer Watch – Advice for getting an old PC fixed.
    • Taking It Home – Tips for backing up and insuring your home/office computer.

    …and more!


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  • PC World (August 2005)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – August 2005

    In 2005, PC World was already in decline. It was covering more computer adjacent things such as digital camcorders and phones by this point. It wasn’t terrible…yet, but you could see where it was headed. The August 2005 issue includes:

    Cover Story

    • Reinvent Your PC – Computer upgrade tips including adding a SATA drive, using a RAID, increasing RAM (to at least 512MB!), upgrading to a dual-core CPU (at least if you are already using an Athlon 64), adding USB 2.0, adding a faster wi-fi card, upgrading to a better graphics card, and more.

    Features

    • Wireless Networking: Faster! Farther! – A test of six new wi-fi products including the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router and Wireless-G Notebook Adapter, the Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router and Wireless Pre-N Notebook Network Card, the Netgear Pre-N Wireless Router and Pre-N Wireless PC Card, the D-Link Super G MIMO Wireless Router, and more.
    • PC in a Browser – A look at various services that allow you to access your computer remotely including MyWebEx PC Pro, Citrix Online GoToMyPC 4.1, 3am Labs LogMeIn Pro, Laplink Everywhere 4, Pro Softnet RemotePC 3, and O1 Communique I’m InTouch 4.

    Top 100

    • Spotlight: DV Camcorders – A look at the latest in DV camcorders including the Sony DCR-DVD403 DVD Handycam ($840), Sony DCR-HC42 MiniDV HandyCam ($560), Panasonic PV-GS250 ($850), Canon Optura 60 ($730), Hitachi DZGX20A ($750), and the JVC GR-DF550US ($450). With the exception of optical zoom, the cheapest modern smartphone is far superior for recording video.
    • Top 15 Desktop PCs – The top “power system” this month is the Alienware Aurora 5500 featuring a 2.6 GHz Athlon 64 FX-55, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 320 GB hard drive, 19-inch NEC LCD monitor and more for $3500. At the top of the “value system” list is the IBM ThinkCentre A51p featuring a 3 GHz Pentium 4 530, 160GB hard drive, 64MB ATI Radeon X300 Pro graphics and 17-inch ThinkVision LCD monitor for $1592.
    • Top 15 Notebook PCs – The top “desktop replacement” laptop this month is the Acer TravelMate 8100 featuring a 2 GHz Pentium M 760 for $2299. The top “all-purpose” laptop is the HP Compaq Nc8230 featuring a 2 Ghz Pentium M 760 for $2244, and the top “ultraportable” is the Dell Inspiron 700m featuring a 1.8 GHz Pentium M 745 for $1567.
    • Top 10 DVD Drives – The top internal DVD drive this month is the Plextor PX-716A for $125 and the top external drive is the Plextor PX-716UF for $230.
    • More Reviews – The top PCI Express graphics board is the MSI RX850XT-VT2D256E with the top nVidia card coming in at number 4 with the PNY Verto GeForce 6800 GT. The top LCD monitor is the Sony SDM-HS95P.

    Departments

    • Up Front – Google’s index has reached 8 billion web pages and counting…back when an editor could say things like “To its credit, though, Google has a history of treating its users’ data with respect.” with a straight face.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about hardware torture tests, permission-based filtering, spyware, and more.
    • Hassle-Free PC – Tips for becoming invisible on instant messaging services, sending files through e-mail that get blocked, and making sure you have all the video codecs you need.
    • Full Disclosure – Strategies for making sure you have your important files backed up.

    News & Trends

    • Longhorn Roundup – A preview of what would ultimately become Windows 7.
    • Apple/Intel: The PC Perspective – News on Apple’s switch to Intel processors.
    • Low-Cost Broadband From Cities Blocked – Cable and DSL providers square off against cities that want to offer broadband access to residents.
    • GPS Phones: New Ways to Find Places – Modern smartphones still weren’t a thing yet but devices such as the BlackBerry, Motorola i830, and others were starting to include GPS capabilities and mapping services.
    • Plugged In – Info on what will be in Office 12 (Office 2007), the ECS PF88 Extreme motherboard which supports both Intel and AMD CPUs, new internet radio services, and more.

    New Products

    • Anti-Spyware Utilities – A look at the latest spyware protection including CounterSpy 1.5, Spy Sweeper 4, and ZeroSpyware 2005.
    • LCD Monitor – The Samsung Syncmaster 242mp, a 24-inch LCD monitor featuring a TV tuner for $1700.
    • HP’s First 64-Bit-Ready Business PC – A look at the HP DX5150 featuring a 2.2 GHz Athlon 64 3500+ CPU for $915.
    • Online Calendar – The OneCalendar online calendar from Trumba.
    • Photo Printer – Epson’s PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition photo printer.
    • Web Browser – Netscape 8.
    • Online Music Service – Yahoo Music Unlimited.

    Digital World

    • TV Recorders – Modern ways to record your favorite TV shows, including DirecTV DVR with TiVo, DVR from Comcast, the MOXI set-top DVR cable box, and more.
    • Digital Audio – New satellite radio devices such as the Sirius Starmate, Tivoli Audio Model Satellite, Pioneer AirWare, Tao XM2go, and more.
    • Gadget Freak – All about becoming a podcaster.

    Here’s How

    • Hardware Tips – Tips for making a backup of your hard drive.
    • Internet Tips – Creating a mobile internet suite on a flash drive.
    • Windows Tips – Fixing bad folder behavior in windows file explorer.
    • Photo Printer Tips – Tips for getting good photo prints cheaply and keeping your photo printer running smoothly.
    • Answer Line – Questions answered about preventing viruses from disabling your protection, reading CDs that have become unreadable, and more.

    …and more!


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