Practical Computing: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Monthly UK computer magazine}}

'''''Practical Computing (magazine)''''' was a [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[computer magazine]] published [[Wiktionary:monthly|monthly]]. The magazine was [[publisher|published]] by [[IPC Media|IPC]] Electrical Electronic Press Ltd. The first edition was released in August [[1978]] as a special computer show edition, and the second issue was October [[1978]]. The magazine carried on to [[1987]] when it merged with ''[[Business Computing]]''. In September [[1989]], it was renamed ''[[Management Computing]]''.

{{Infobox magazine

| title = Practical Computing

| image_file = Praccomp79.jpg

| image_caption = Practical Computing, November 1979

| frequency =

| publisher = [[IPC Media|IPC]] Electrical Electronic Press Ltd

| firstdate = August 1978

| finaldate = 1989

| country = [[United Kingdom]]

| based = [[Sutton, Surrey]]

}}

'''''Practical Computing (magazine)''''' was a [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[computer magazine]] published [[Wiktionary:monthly|monthly]]. The magazine was [[publisher|published]] by [[IPC Media|IPC]] Electrical Electronic Press Ltd.<ref name="inar">{{cite web|title=textsPractical Computing 1983 February |url=https://archive.org/details/PracticalComputing1983February/page/n3/mode/2up|work=Internet Archive|date=February 1983 |accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> The headquarters was in [[Sutton, Surrey]].<ref name="inar"/> The first edition was released in August [[1978]] as a special computer show edition, and the second issue was October [[1978]]. The magazine carried on to [[1987]] when it merged with ''[[Business Computing]]''. In September [[1989]], it was renamed ''[[Management Computing]]''.

Practical Computing magazineIt provided in-depth [[review]]s and [[preview]]spreviews of the latest [[computer hardware|hardware]] and [[software]] for the [[information technology]] professionalenthusiasts and professionals, initially forproviding a mix of hobbyistarticles aimed at hobbyists and at small business people, andlater thenfocusing its attention increasingly exclusively on the business peopleand only.professional market.

== Overview ==

Practical Computing magazine provided in-depth [[review]]s and [[preview]]s of the latest [[hardware]] and [[software]] for the [[information technology]] professional, initially for a mix of hobbyist and small business people, and then increasingly business people only.

== Development and evolution ==

The magazine followed the trends of the microcomputer industry at the time. Initially it covered a broad range of systems including [[Commodore PET]]s and the [[TRS-80|Tandy TRS-80]] as well as [[single-board computerscomputer]]s such as the [[Compukit UK101|UK101]] and [[Nascom|Nascom 2]]. Later in its life it focussed more on business computers such as the [[Sirius Systems Technology#Victor 9000 / Sirius 1|ACT Sirius 1]] and the [[IBM PC]]. Towards the end of its life, itreflecting almosttheir exclusivelydominance in the small computing marketplace, it covered the IBM PC clonesand compatibles almost exclusively, with the occasional [[Apple Mac]] or small [[workstation|UNIX workstation]] piece.

The editors were as follows:

*1978 — [[Dennis Jarrett]] (main magazine), [[Nick Hampshire]] (Computabits)

*1979-1983—Peter Laurie

*1984 — [[Jack Schofield (journalist)|Jack Schofield]]

The initial publisher in 1978 was Wim Hoeksma, who died in 1981. Chris Hipwell was its publisher in the early 1980s. Tom Maloney was advertising manager.

The cover price in 1978 was 50p; in June 1980 it rose to 60p, June 1981 80p, 1984 85p and 1985 £1.

[[Your Computer (British magazine)|''Your Computer'']] was a spin-off from ''Practical Computing''.

== Trivia ==

== Concept and design ==

* The coverart was initially hand-drawn, later it went for occasional (but humorous) photographs, then finally a mix of photos and geometric graphic design.

* From October 1978 to OctonerOctober 1979 the magazine serialised the book ''Illustrating BASIC'' by Donald Alcock. This book was unusually written by hand rather than typeset, and featured little insects to show common programming errors or bugs.

* When it was more of a hobbyist magazine, Practical Computing published fiction -- usuallyfiction—usually stories with a computing or science fiction slant. A noted series was Richard Forsyth's ''Son of Hexadecimal Kid'',<ref>http{{Cite web |title=1980s Vintage Computers - Practical Computing Stories|access-date=2021-10-11 |url=https://www.vintagecomputers.freeserve.cosdfeu.ukorg/mags/praccomp/stories/ }}</ref>, which ran from September 1980 to December 1981.

* The magazine underwent two redesigns in its history, in 1982 and 1985. In 1985 the title font changed, losing its trademark 'mu' symbol, and the subtitle 'for business and professional micro users' appeared.

==References==

{{reflistReflist}}

==External links==

* [http://www.vintagecomputers.freeservesdfeu.co.ukorg/mags/praccomp/index.htm 1980s Vintage Computers — Practical Computing]

* [http://www.vintagecomputers.freeservesdfeu.co.ukorg/mags/praccomp/stories/index.htm Practical Computing magazine - Stories]

* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/sec/1403/Practical-Computing/ Computing History - Practical Computing]

* [http://www.davidviner.com/mags.php David Viner — UK Computer Magazines]

* [[iarchive:practicalcomputing|Archived Practical Computing magazines]] on the [[Internet Archive]]

[[Category:PublicationsDefunct establishedcomputer magazines published in 1978the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:1989Magazines disestablishmentsestablished in 1978]]

[[Category:BritishMagazines computerdisestablished magazinesin 1989]]

[[Category:Defunct computerMonthly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Science and technology magazines published in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Mass media in Surrey]]