Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Newbie-ish
I have read PC World on and off for a while. All that I can say is that PC World is VERY newbish. This Mag talks about how dells are the best, which are the best pc manufacturers, etc. It never talks about the best motherboards, best Graphics cards, etc. If you dont KNOW A LOT about computers, then this may be an alright subscription, but I highly doubt it. If you need to know which is the best PC around, then you need only to buy ONE issue, not an entire subscription. Also, if PC World were good, they would know that building your PC is the best way to go, and they don't even give a hoot about hardcore companies like Voodoo and Alienware, so they never talk about the high end systems. They just go trotting around, talking about their inky dinky dells. Trust me folks, PC World is nothing but a newbie magazine. No where in this magazine will they tell you how to build a computer, or which motherboard to buy and why, or even which HARDCORE computer to buy. No, all they talk about are their little business junk PCs that we call Dells, Gateways, Compaqs, and HPs.
Rating:  - Reliable
You can rely on PC World magazine to bring you the information on the products you are curious about. Whether you are buying or building, PC World can help you make the right decisions. The writers are always conscious of the best quality for your money. In addition, several privacy issues are addressed and step by step recommendations solidify a quick and easy resolution for protecting your PC. This periodical is also easy to read. The information is put in language that is pleasing and understandable for any reader. It is mandatory reading for the serious buyer. PC World also offers a very useful website including an easy to use product finder with user reviews, sometimes lab test reviews, best prices on the web, and a comparison tool so that visitors can compare specifications for all kinds of computer hardware and software. Most importantly, PC World is not like a lot of those boring computer magazines out there. It's a magazine with many different personalities. Many writers' columns can be helpful and funny at the same time. It's a people's magazine written for the folks out there with the same issues that everyone in the PC community share.
Rating:  - Good for the casual computer user
PC World is one of the most widely read computer magazines in existence, and for good reason: it provides a monthly dose of technology news and reviews in an accessible and easy-to-read format. Though they bill themselves as a resource for IT managers and business people, the magazine is very consumer-oriented, and every issue contains helpful tips for novice users (such as how to get rid of temp files or install the latest Outlook patch).Alas, being a jack of all trades condemns you to be a master of none. On average, I only find one or two articles per issue actually useful, and most features lack the depth and technical detail that IT professionals crave (in their defense, and in defense of my high ranking, that one piece of advice I get each month is usually a lifesaver). Additionally, the signal-to-noise ratio seems a little too low - one often finds "special advertising supplements" where content should be. Perhaps my largest issue (no pun intended) with PC World is with its monthly Top 100 list. The magazine regularly gives its highest honors to computer systems unavailable through normal distribution channels, and peripherals (such as printers and CD burners) that I know from experience to have significant reliability problems are often labeled "best buy" because they perform marginally better on benchmark tests. Never the less, PC World remains a great tool for the casual user seeking a better understanding of the computer industry (or anyone just looking for some advice on buying a new PC)... and to those people, I highly recommend it.
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