View source for PC World

{{Short description|American global computer magazine}}
{{About|the electronics magazine|the former British retailer|PC World (retailer)|the defunct unrelated British magazine|Personal Computer World}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox Magazine
| title          = PC World
| image_file     = PCWorld logo red 2019.png
| image_size     = 
| image_caption  = 
| editor         = Jon Phillips
| editor_title   = Editorial Director
| frequency      = Monthly
|total_circulation= 355,117 (United States)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |title= eCirc for Consumer Magazines |date= December 31, 2012 |publisher= Alliance for Audited Media |access-date= February 22, 2013 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20170123200306/http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp |archive-date= January 23, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref> 
|circulation_year= December 2012
| category       = [[Computer magazine]]
| company        = [[International Data Group|IDG]]
| firstdate      = {{start date and age|1983|3}}
| finaldate      = {{end date|2013|8}} (print)
| based   = San Francisco, California, US
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| website        = {{URL|pcworld.com}}
| issn           = 0737-8939
| oclc           = 1117065657
}}
'''''PC World''''' (stylized as '''PCWorld''') is a global [[computer magazine]] published monthly by [[International Data Group|IDG]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idg.com/www/IDGProducts.nsf/0/B43C91860903F620852578D80052B169 |title=IDG Print Publication: PCWorld |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401082653/http://www.idg.com/www/IDGProducts.nsf/0/B43C91860903F620852578D80052B169 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2013, it has been an online-only publication. 

It offers advice on various aspects of [[personal computer|PCs]] and related items, the Internet, and other personal technology products and services. In each publication, ''PC World'' reviews and tests hardware and software products from a variety of manufacturers, as well as other technology related devices such as [[digital camera|still]] and [[video camera]]s, audio devices and televisions.

The current editorial director of ''PC World'' is Jon Phillips, formerly of ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]''. In August 2012, he replaced Steve Fox, who had been editorial director since the December 2008 issue of the magazine. Fox replaced the magazine's veteran editor [[Harry McCracken]], who resigned that spring,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/007041.html|title=Goodbye, Kind PC World|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906124712/http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/007041.html|archive-date=September 6, 2011}}</ref> after some rocky times, including quitting and being rehired over editorial control issues in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/131702/editor_in_chief_harry_mccracken_returns_to_pcw.html |title=Editor in Chief Harry McCracken Returns to PCW |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004020655/http://www.pcworld.com/article/131702/editor_in_chief_harry_mccracken_returns_to_pcw.html |archive-date=October 4, 2011 }}</ref>

''PC World'' is published under other names such as '''PC Advisor''' and '''PC Welt''' in some countries.<!--**** Redirects here, so included in intro ***--> ''PC World''{{'}}s company name is IDG Consumer & SMB, and it is headquartered in San Francisco.<ref>"[http://www.pcworld.com/resource/contactus.html contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102030755/http://www.pcworld.com/resource/contactus.html |date=2010-01-02 }}." PC World Communications. Retrieved December 29, 2009.</ref> Some of the non-English ''PC World'' websites now [[Web redirection|redirect]] to other IDG sites; for example, PCWorld.dk (Denmark) is now [[Computerworld]].dk

==History==
The publication was announced at the [[COMDEX]] trade show in November 1982, and first appeared on newsstands in March 1983.

The magazine was founded by [[David Bunnell]] and Cheryl Woodard, and its first editor was [[Andrew Fluegelman]]. ''PC World''{{'}}s magazine and web site have won a number of awards from Folio, the American Society of Business Publication Editors, MIN, the Western Publications Association, and other organizations; it is also one of the few technology magazines to have been a finalist for a [[National Magazine Award]].

Many well known technology writers have contributed to ''PC World'', including Steve Bass, [[Daniel Tynan]], Christina Wood, [[John C. Dvorak]], [[Stephen Manes]], Lincoln Spector, [[Stewart Alsop]], David Coursey, James A. Martin, and others. Editorial leadership has included Harry Miller, Richard Landry, Eric Knorr, Karl Koessel, Phil Lemmons, Cathryn Baskin, Kevin McKean, and Harry McCracken.

In February 1999, ''PC World''{{'}}s number of paid subscriptions reached a record of 1,000,453. At the time, it was the first and only computing magazine with a monthly release schedule to hit that mark.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/news/february_99/2_24/index.shtml |title=Timely News from the Interactive Entertainment Industry - PC World Reaches One Million |access-date=May 20, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010520134922/http://www.gamedaily.com/news/february_99/2_24/index.shtml |archive-date=May 20, 2001 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2005, the show ''[[Digital Duo]]'' was slightly [[rebranded]] and relaunched as ''[[PC World's Digital Duo]]'', and ran for an additional 26 episodes. As of 2006, ''PC World''{{'}}s audited rate base of 750,000 made it the largest circulation computing magazine in the world.<ref>[https://www.jingleways.com/pc-case/best-smallest-atx-pc-cases/ Gaming Guide] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615133625/http://www.marketing.pcworld.com/site/print_circulation.html |date=June 15, 2007 }}</ref>

On July 10, 2013, owner IDG announced that the magazine would cease its thirty-year print run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foliomag.com/2013/idgs-pcworld-going-digital-only#.Ud3IgT7wJpk|title=IDG's PCWorld Going Digital-Only|publisher=Access Intelligence |author=Bill Mickey|date=July 10, 2013|website=Folio|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> The issue of August 2013 was the last printed of the magazine ''PC World'', future issues would be digital only.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Harry McCracken|title=PCWorld Exits Print, and the Era of Computer Magazines Ends|url=https://techland.time.com/2013/07/11/pcworld-exits-print-and-the-era-of-computer-magazines-ends/|access-date=August 13, 2015|work=Time Magazine|date=July 11, 2013}}</ref>

In December 2024, PCWorld expanded its coverage of personal tech by forming a more formal bond between PCWorld and sister site TechHive, which had been covering smart home and video streaming tech since 2017.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2553881/meet-techhive-the-new-pcworld-home-for-smart-home-tech.html | title=Meet TechHive, the new PCWorld home for smart home tech }}</ref>

In March 2025, PCWorld's parent company, Foundry, was acquired from IDG/Blackstone by Regent.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.regentlp.com/news/regent-lp-acquires-crossknowledge-from-wiley-4682y | title=Blackstone-backed IDG Completes Sale of Foundry to Regent }}</ref>

==Countries==
Based in San Francisco, ''PC World''{{'}}s original edition is published in the United States; however it is also available in other countries (51 in total), sometimes under a different name:
* ''PC World'' in Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Brazil, Denmark, Greece, India (from July 2006), Kosovo, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Vietnam, Ecuador.
* ''[[PC Advisor]]'' in Ireland and the United Kingdom, which stopped publication in 2017 (Another now discontinued magazine called ''[[Personal Computer World]]'' and a ''[[PC World (retailer)|PC World]]'' retailer&nbsp; — neither related to the ''PC World'' magazine&nbsp; — already exist or existed in those markets.)
* ''PC Welt'', is the German language edition.
* ''PCW'', is the Hungarian language edition.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcwplus.hu/pcwlite/nem-csak-neveben-ujul-meg-a-pc-world-mostantol-pcwkent-szeretnenk-meg-tobbet-adni-341518.html | title=Nem csak nevében újul meg a PC World: Mostantól PCW-ként szeretnénk még többet adni }}</ref>
* ''Info Komputer'', is the Indonesian language edition.
* ''Kompiuterija'', is the Lithuanian language edition.
* ''Thế Giới Vi Tính'', is the Vietnamese language edition (also called ''PC World Vietnam'').

==Controversy==
In May 2007, McCracken resigned abruptly under controversial circumstances. According to sources quoted in ''[[Wired Magazine|Wired]]'', McCracken quit abruptly because the new CEO of ''PC World'', Colin Crawford, tried to kill an unfavorable story about [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and [[Steve Jobs]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=2007-05-02 |title=PC World Editor Quits Over Apple Story |url=http://www.wired.com/2007/05/pc_world_editor/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825144638/http://www.wired.com/2007/05/pc_world_editor/ |archive-date=2014-08-25 |magazine=WIRED}}</ref> Crawford responded, calling media reports of McCracken's resignation "inaccurate".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-05-04 |title=PC World editor quits during dispute over Apple story [updated] |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/07/05/04/pc_world_editor_quits_during_dispute_over_apple_story |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=AppleInsider |language=en}}</ref> [[CNET]] later reported that McCracken had told colleagues that [[International Data Group|IDG]] "was pressuring him to avoid stories that were critical of major advertisers."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krazit |first=Tom |date=2007-05-02 |title=PC World editor resigns over apparent ad pressure |url=http://news.cnet.com/PC-World-editor-resigns-over-apparent-ad-pressure/2100-1030_3-6181075.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704004642/http://news.cnet.com/PC-World-editor-resigns-over-apparent-ad-pressure/2100-1030_3-6181075.html |archive-date=2008-07-04 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-05-03 |title=Editor quits after PC Mag kills Apple story |url=http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/05/03/editor.quits.over.jobs.st/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906162718/http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/05/03/editor.quits.over.jobs.st/ |archive-date=2008-09-06 |website=MacNN}}</ref>

On May 9, Crawford was transferred to another department, and McCracken returned to ''PC World'' until his departure in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLeod |first=Ramon G. |date=2007-05-09 |title=Editor in Chief Harry McCracken Returns to PCW |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id%2C131702-page%2C1/article.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510211115/http://www.pcworld.com/article/id%2C131702-page%2C1/article.html |archive-date=2007-05-10 |website=PC World}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Companies}}
*''[[PC Magazine]]''
*[[Workbench]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{oweb|http://www.pcworld.com/}}
*[https://archive.org/details/pcworld?tab=collection Archived PC World magazines] on the [[Internet Archive]]

{{IDG}}
{{Video Game Critics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pc World}}
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Computer magazines published in Australia]]
[[Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Computer magazines published in India]]
[[Category:International Data Group]]
[[Category:Computer magazines published in Italy]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1982]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Online magazines with defunct print editions]]
[[Category:Computer magazines published in Spain]]
[[Category:Magazines published in San Francisco]]
[[Category:2025 mergers and acquisitions]]