Maximum PC
| File:MaxPC banner.jpg Maximum PC logo | |
| Editor | Will Smith |
|---|---|
| Categories | Computer hardware |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First issue | 1997 |
| Company | Future US |
| Country | USA |
| Language | -English |
| Website | http://www.maximumpc.com |
| ISSN | 1522-4279 |
Maximum PC, formerly known as boot, is an American magazine published by Future US, and focuses on modern day PC hardware. Most content in the magazine is projected to a less business-oriented audience than many other magazines. The magazine is focused more so on home-related computing, and the relation of modern hardware toward modern software and gaming.
Maximum PC's use of humor, sometimes vulgar language, and suggestive images (two of the issues featured a female nurse fixing a computer on the cover) gave it a distinct populist feeling, and also resulted in some controversy. In particular, the 'nurse cover' of February 2003 generated a large amount of reader feedback and letters.
Prior to September 1997, the magazine was called boot. boot and sister magazine MacAddict launched in 1995 when Future US shut down CD-ROM Today.
Product reviews
Product reviews are done by editors on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. The only product to receive an "11" rating was Half-Life 2 in January 2005, raising some objections from readers.
Outstanding products are also given a "Kick Ass" award. Exceptional products with a "9" rating and all products with a "10" rating receive this award.
Each review also includes a "Pros and Cons" section giving a quick summary of the product. Shortly after its first publication, the magazine started placing humorous captions in this section, many of which being a pun on the product itself or its function. For example in a review of two monitors, one section is captioned LCD (pros) vs. LSD (cons), in the other it is liquid crystal (pros) vs. crystal meth (cons).
Notable features
- Head2Head - a side-by-side comparison of two or more competing products.
- Watch Dog - a section where Maximum PC acts as an Ombudsman, going after fraud reported by the readers. Each month the section features a new dog, whose photos are also sent in by the readers.
- How To - short, technical instructions on modifying computer components.
- Ask the Doctor - advice for fixing computer related problems.
- R&D - a look into the inner workings of commonly used hardware today.
- In the Lab - a behind-the-scenes look at Maximum PC testing. This section often includes humorous features sometimes involving "torturing" interns.
- Softy Awards - a yearly roundup of the staff's favorite new software (mostly utilities)
- Hardware Autopsy - a diagram of the innards of various devices, such as a printer, a camera, etc.
- In/Out - reader mail and questions
- Rig of the Month - a monthly showcase of an elaborate case modification.
- Dream Machine - an annual attempt to build the best-performing PC on the market, using the best components and techniques available.
- Lean Machine - possibly discontinued feature showcasing the best computer possible for that year with a price tag under $1,000.
- Geek Quiz - An annual computer/technology quiz that claims it will have even the most hardcore geeks grinding their teeth.
- Gear of the Year - a review of the best PC parts for the current year.
Differences from boot
A common criticism of the time when boot was published was that it was elitist in the nature of the products it reviewed and attitudes taken by its writers. boot was aimed at a super hardcore PC and gaming audience with many articles focusing on computers for the absolute best computer and/or gaming experience with absolutely no regard to cost. When it revamped itself as Maximum PC it dropped much of the elitist attitude and focused on being accessible to a wider array of hardcore PC users and gamers. boot also featured a monthly commentary with Alex St. John, nicknamed "The Saint", regarding the emerging DirectX standard which he was instrumental in developing at Microsoft, often leading to some controversy in the gaming community on the merits of DirectX vs. OpenGL. His arguments with id Software's John Carmack became famous during this time in the gaming community.
Circulation
The magazine claims a circulation rate-base of 300,000.
Maximum PC also provides an archive of back-issues in PDF format free of charge on their website. this archive currently reaches back to the December, 2005 issue, though they have stated they plan to extend it back into at least some of their 2001 issues.
Staff
- Editor-in-chief: Will Smith
- Deputy Editor: Katherine Stevenson
- Managing Editor: Tom Edwards
- Executive Editor: Michael Brown
- Senior Editor: Gordon Mah Ung
- Associate Editor: David Murphy
- Art Director: Natalie Jeday
- Associate Art Director: Boni Uzilevsky
- Editorial Director: Jon Phillips
- Intern: Nathan Edwards
Maximum PC also has many freelance contributors in addition to occasional interns. Such writers include Gord Goble, Norman Chan, and Paul Lilly. Moreover, columnists Tom Halfhill and Thomas McDonald write editorials on a monthly basis under the names Fast Forward and Game Theory, respectively.