PC World was probably the dominant PC specific magazine in 1993 and 1993 was also the year I bought my first "PC", replacing my Commodore 64. The March 1993 issue of PC World includes:
Cover Story
486DX2-66s: Fastest PCs in the Universe - In 1993, a 486DX2-66 based PC was the fastest you could buy. Late in the year the Pentium would come along basically doubling the speed but for a little while, the DX2-66 was king. This article looks at 24 different systems based on this CPU. The Gateway 2000 DX2-66V is number 2 on the "Best Buy" list here and this is the same model I bought a few months later.
Consumer Alert
Is Your New Software Secondhand? - Software returned to stores may not have only been used, but also contain a virus.
Hard Disks
Tips to Organize Your Hard Disk - Tips to make finding files easier, making backups, and more.
Deep in the Art of Taxes - A look at seven tax software packages including AM-Tax, Andrew Toblas' TaxCut, EasyTax, Personal Tax Edge, Tax Solver, TaxPerfect, and TurboTax.
Printers
Dot Matrix Lives? - A guide to 24-pin dot matrix printers. This looks at 32 of them.
Reference
Getting There With Software Maps - Before GPS and Google Maps or even MapQuest there were standalone software applications for mapping. Some of the ones looked at here include Street Wizard, Automap for Windows, Zagat-Axxis CityGuide, PC Globe, Street Atlas USA, Travel Partner, Personal Travel Guide, City Streets, Key Map, Local Expert, Travel Companion, U.S. Atlas With Automap, and World Atlas.
Top of the News
DOS 6: More Utility, More Power - DOS 6 was the last major new standalone version of DOS finishing up with, I believe, DOS 6.22. DOS 7 would be included with Windows 95.
PC Tools Comes to Windows - A Windows version of an originally DOS only application for protecting and recovering data, monitoring and optimizing system performance, automating tasks, and more.
A Trio of ASTs Pushes the Limits - Again - Three new 486 based computers from AST including the Premmia 4/66d, 4/33, and 4/33s.
A Complete Windows Communicator - A look at the terminal program HyperAccess for Windows 1.0.
Wyse Technology Decision PCs - A series of 486 based network ready PCs from Wyse.
doubleRES IV printer board - A $599 upgrade to make HP Series II and III laser printers print faster.
SuperMac VideoSpigot - A low cost video capture board ($499).
DECLaser 1152 printer - A low cost PastScript laser printer for $1299.
Logitech AudioMan - A sound card, microphone, and speaker combo for Windows that attaches to the parallel port.
Here's How
Help Line - How to share external drives with multiple computers. Plus, a tip for making wallpaper more useful, and more.
Communications -
Windows - A workaround for changing the default font in Windows Write, how to change printer names, managing sound files, and more.
Departments
Letters - Letters from readers about the affordability of PCs, math coprocessors and Windows performance, OS/2 2.0, the 386DX-40 vs. 486SX-25, and more.
Consumer Watch - Hard drives and warranties plus the dangers of purchasing international software, and more.
Real Problems, Real Solutions - Creating a virtual office.
