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| publisher = [[IPC Media|IPC]] Electrical Electronic Press Ltd
| firstdate = August 1978
| finaldate =
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| based = [[Sutton, Surrey]]
}}
'''''Practical Computing''''' 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]]''.▼
It provided in-depth [[review]]s and previews of the latest [[
▲'''''Practical Computing''''' 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|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]]''.
▲It provided in-depth [[review]]s and previews of the latest [[personal computer hardware|hardware]] and [[software]] for the [[information technology]] enthusiasts and professionals, initially providing a mix of articles aimed at hobbyists and at small business people, later focusing its attention increasingly exclusively on the business and professional market.
== 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 computer]]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, reflecting their dominance in the small computing marketplace, it covered the IBM PC and compatibles almost exclusively, with the occasional [[Apple Mac]] or small [[workstation|UNIX workstation]] piece.
The editors were:
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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''.
== 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 October 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—usually stories with a computing or science fiction slant. A noted series was Richard Forsyth's ''Son of Hexadecimal Kid'',<ref>{{Cite web
* 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.
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* [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:Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
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