PC Pro February 2021 Issue 316

A Month That Shifted the Ground Under PCs 💻

February 2021 found the personal computing world asking hard questions about the future. In PC Pro Issue 316, the cover story focuses on Apple’s M1 processor and what it means for the long-standing Wintel alliance. Jon Honeyball reviews the MacBook Air and Jonathan Bray follows with the MacBook Pro, both finding a level of performance and integration that made the previous generation feel suddenly dated.

AMD’s Ryzen 5000 Series Changes the Desktop Conversation ⚙️

AMD’s new Zen 3 architecture arrived with claims of a decisive lead in gaming and single-threaded performance. This issue puts two systems through their paces: the Scan 3XS RTX Studio Pro G132R, a £4,100 workstation-class PC with a 16-core Ryzen 5950X and GeForce RTX 3090, and the £1,750 Scan 3XS Gamer RTX, which targets gamers with a potent mix of Ryzen and Nvidia hardware. The results suggest Intel no longer holds the automatic advantage it once did.

Tablets, Smartwatches, and the Raspberry Pi 400 🧠

The reviews section casts a wide net. Fourteen tablets are tested, from budget-friendly Amazon Fire HD models to the iPad Pro 12.9in and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. Apple’s iPad Air and iPad Pro both receive attention, while the Raspberry Pi 400 is evaluated as a complete PC built into a keyboard. Smartwatches also get a group test, with the Apple Watch Series 3, Fitbit Versa 3, and Mobvoi TicWatch E2 among the contenders.

Why Video Calls Leave You Exhausted

Simon Hudson investigates the science behind videoconferencing fatigue, explaining why meetings through Zoom, Teams, and similar platforms can feel more draining than in-person conversations. He also offers practical steps for organizers and attendees. Elsewhere, Alan Martin explores how lockdown pushed tabletop gamers toward virtual platforms, asking whether digital Dungeons & Dragons could become a lasting part of the hobby.

Making Sense of USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth

Darien Graham-Smith provides a clear guide to the often-confusing world of connection standards. The feature unpicks the differences between USB generations, Wi-Fi protocols, and Bluetooth versions, helping readers understand what the labels on their devices actually mean. It is the kind of reference piece that saves hours of frustrated web searching.

Practical Advice for IT Professionals and Enthusiasts

Regular sections cover network monitoring software, licence management, and how businesses should approach their internet presence in 2021. The Buyer’s Guide looks at four network monitoring tools, while Steve Cassidy examines what a modern online strategy should include. For IT managers and support staff, the issue balances hands-on reviews with strategic thinking.

Columns, Retro Computing, and the Future of Work

Dick Pountain, Nicole Kobie, Barry Collins, Jon Honeyball, Paul Ockenden, Lee Grant, Laura Paterson, and Davey Winder contribute their usual mix of opinion and experience. David Crookes visits the Internet Archive’s efforts to preserve thousands of DOS games and make them playable in a browser. Nicole Kobie closes by imagining a future where Zoom fatigue is a thing of the past and technology genuinely makes work easier.

Who Will Find This Issue Useful

PC Pro Issue 316 speaks to technology enthusiasts, IT professionals, and anyone trying to keep pace with a fast-moving industry. The issue does not just report on new hardware; it puts that hardware in context, examining what the shifts at Apple, AMD, and Intel mean for the next decade of computing. If you want a snapshot of a pivotal month in PC history, this issue delivers it with expert testing and clear analysis.