PC Life
Encyclopedia
PC Life was a disk magazine
for the IBM PC
published starting in 1986 in Syracuse, New York
by publisher and editor Mike Sullivan. In contrast to the mostly text-based disk magazines in existence at the time, PC Life was more graphical and multimedia in style, with various animation and interaction, although the extent of the graphical style was limited by the technology of the time, which required that the publication fit on a floppy disk
and be compatible with CGA
graphics. It got some good reviews from people who found this style attractive, including PC World
, which complimented its "spiffy graphics, bright writing, and packaging that's a blend of GQ and Vogue
." However, others criticized its relative lack of "meaty" content such as complete, usable programs, such as was usually found on other disk magazines. It lasted at least through 1988, publishing two issues in each of three volumes.
Disk magazine
A disk magazine, colloquially known as a diskmag, is a magazine that is distributed in electronic form to be read using computers. These had some popularity in the 1980s and 1990s as periodicals distributed on floppy disk, hence their name...
for the IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
published starting in 1986 in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
by publisher and editor Mike Sullivan. In contrast to the mostly text-based disk magazines in existence at the time, PC Life was more graphical and multimedia in style, with various animation and interaction, although the extent of the graphical style was limited by the technology of the time, which required that the publication fit on a floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
and be compatible with CGA
Color Graphics Adapter
The Color Graphics Adapter , originally also called the Color/Graphics Adapter or IBM Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter, introduced in 1981, was IBM's first color graphics card, and the first color computer display standard for the IBM PC....
graphics. It got some good reviews from people who found this style attractive, including PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
, which complimented its "spiffy graphics, bright writing, and packaging that's a blend of GQ and Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
." However, others criticized its relative lack of "meaty" content such as complete, usable programs, such as was usually found on other disk magazines. It lasted at least through 1988, publishing two issues in each of three volumes.