PC Pro – Issue 360, September 2024

Thirty Years of PC Pro, Packed Into Issue 360

PC Pro reaches its 360th issue with a September 2024 edition that doubles as a 30th anniversary special. The magazine looks back at three decades of personal computing while keeping its usual focus on the hardware, software, security and services that matter right now. If you have followed the PC from beige boxes to AI-capable laptops, this issue treats that journey as a story worth telling properly.

Inside the 30th Anniversary Special

The centrepiece feature counts down 30 great moments in technology from 1994 to 2024, alongside a deliberately less celebratory dirty dozen of tech failures. It is a broad, opinionated sweep through the products and ideas that shaped the last three decades, written for readers who remember the era and for those who want to understand how we arrived at today’s tech landscape.

VPNs Put Through Their Paces

The issue’s Labs section tests ten VPN services, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, TunnelBear, Windscribe, Avast SecureLine, Mullvad, Norton Secure VPN and Private Internet Access. The reviews consider free options, streaming, security and privacy, making the section a practical reference for anyone weighing up a VPN subscription.

Hardware Reviews: Copilot+ PCs and More

Hardware coverage includes the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition and Surface Pro 11th Edition, plus the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16in, Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, Framework Laptop 13 DIY Edition, Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 and HP Elite x360 1040 2-in-1 G11. Smartphones such as the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6 also come under scrutiny, alongside desktops, monitors, webcams, external drives and security appliances.

Features, Advice and Futures

Beyond reviews, the issue explores how to keep private messages private across WhatsApp, iMessage, RCS and Signal, how to give an old PC new life with ChromeOS Flex, and the story of Netscape Navigator as the browser that brought the World Wide Web to the masses. Further articles examine internet marketing for small businesses, security appliances for business protection, and the future of city transport.

Who Will Find It Useful

PC Pro Issue 360 is aimed at technology enthusiasts, IT professionals, small-business owners and anyone who wants informed, UK-focused coverage of computing. The mix of long-form reflection and current reviews makes it a substantial single issue rather than a quick browse.