Editing PCMag (section)

== Development and evolution ==
The magazine evolved significantly over the years. The most drastic change was the shrinkage of the publication due to contractions in the computer-industry's ad market and the easy availability of the [[Internet]], which made computer magazines seem less necessary. This is also the primary reason for the November 2008 decision to discontinue the print version.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PC Magazine Goes 100% Digital |url=https://www.pcmag.com/archive/pc-magazine-goes-100-digital-234168 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314043628/https://www.pcmag.com/archive/pc-magazine-goes-100-digital-234168 |archive-date=2023-03-14 |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=PCMAG}}</ref> 

It has adapted to the new realities of the 21st century by reducing its once-standard emphasis on massive comparative reviews of computer systems, hardware peripherals, and software packages to focus more on the broader consumer-electronics market. From the late 1990s, the magazine more frequently reviewed [[Macintosh]] software and hardware.

As of February 2025, PCMag.com has multiple categories of coverage, including reviews, how-to articles, news, opinion, deals, PCs & hardware, mobile, electronics, smart home, health & fitness, gaming, software & services, and security. The magazine also produces product comparisons. It also releases special issues like [https://www.pcmag.com/series/get-organized Get Organized]<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2025 |title=PCMag's Get Organized series |url=https://www.pcmag.com/series/get-organized |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207101718/https://www.pcmag.com/series/get-organized |archive-date=7 February 2025 |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=PCMag.com}}</ref> and an annual [https://www.pcmag.com/articles/best-tech-brands-2025 Best Tech Brands] ranking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2025 |title=The Best Tech Brands for 2025 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/articles/best-tech-brands-2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207130508/https://www.pcmag.com/articles/best-tech-brands-2025 |archive-date=7 February 2025 |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

=== The creation of a hardware test facility ===
''PC Magazine'' was one of the first publications to have a formal test facility, which they called PC Labs. The name was used early in the magazine, and a physical PC Labs was built at the magazine's 1 Park Avenue, New York facility in 1986. William Wong was the first PC Labs Director.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=William |date=2018 |title=Remembering PC Mag Editors |url=https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/embedded-revolution/article/21806625/remembering-pc-mag-editors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805212504/https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/embedded-revolution/article/21806625/remembering-pc-mag-editors |archive-date=2021-08-05 |access-date=2021-03-26 |website=electronicdesign.com}}</ref> PC Labs created a series of benchmarks, of which older versions can be found on the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PC Magazine Labs Performance Tests 1.x |url=https://winworldpc.com/product/pc-magazine-labs-per/1x |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728112536/https://winworldpc.com/product/pc-magazine-labs-per/1x |archive-date=2021-07-28 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |website=winworldpc.com}}</ref> PC Labs was designed to help writers and editors evaluate PC hardware and software, especially for large projects like the annual printer edition where almost a hundred printers were compared using PC Labs printer benchmarks.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1986 |title=PC Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VomWiyJuttsC |journal=PCMag |volume=5 |issue=19 |access-date=2021-03-26  |archive-date=2023-12-19  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219105224/https://books.google.com/books?id=VomWiyJuttsC |url-status=live }}</ref>