1. PCMag Digital
Network EDITORIAL REVIEWS
PROCESS
March 2010

2. Table of Contents
‣ Mission Statement
‣ PCMag Overview
‣ Reviews Coverage
‣ Reviews Process
‣ What Makes a Great
Review
©2010 Ziff Davis Media
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3. The PCMag Mission Statement
Brand Awareness
• PCMag.com is a leading authority
on technology, delivering Labs-
based, independent reviews of the Product
latest products and services. Consideration
• Our expert industry analysis and
Brand
practical solutions help you make Preference
better buying decisions and get
more from technology. Trans-
action
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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4. PCMag.com is trusted content
• For nearly 30 years, one of the
world’s most respected, most
popular publishers of technology
content
• More than 1000-products are
tested each year in PC Labs.
• PCMag.com’s Editors’ Choice is the
trustmark for buyers of technology/
digital products and services
globally.
©2010 Ziff Davis Media
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5. Inside PC Labs
• The heart of our unique offering
lies with the PC Labs:
• Largest and first computing
testing lab in the industry.
• Objective, benchmark-based
product testing.
• Industry leading analysts and
experts.
• Ratings and awards provided
through PC Labs analysis are the
gold standard of the industry.
©2010 Ziff Davis Media
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6. Testing Desktops, Laptops and more
• Highly recognizable editorial talent
• Wide ranging, authoritative coverage –
reviews, product updates, opinion.
• Broad tech category coverage:
Top Categories – 2009 # Reviews
Total Reviews 1009
Laptop PC reviews 153
Software (PC-based) 150
Cell-Smart phones/PDA’s 98
Desktop PC reviews 96
Software (mobile apps) 75
LCD Displays/HDTV’s 52
Digital Cameras/Camcorders 49
Printers 38
©2010 Ziff Davis Media
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7. REVIEWS
REVIEWS PROCESS Step by Step
©2010 Ziff Davis Media
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8. Inventory and Product Photography
• Discovery
✓ Editor and analysts follow the industry
✓ Request products to review
• Inventory Management
✓Products receive an inventory number
✓ Related materials are bagged
• Photography
✓ Photographed in-house
✓ Slideshows and home page promotion
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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9. How We Review
Design
• Appearance
• Usability
• Ergonomics
Features
• Parts
• Ports
• Software Bundle
• Service & Support
Performance
• PCMark Vantage
• 3DmarkO6
• Cinebench R10
• MobileMark 2007
Overall Value -
The hardest part of any review, also the most important!
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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10. A Good PCMag Review: Pros
• Understanding of our ratings system
• Shipping with a big battery
• Including plenty of RAM
• Including trendy features and new technologies
• Sending cheap systems - they receive good reviews, too
• Staying in touch with the analysts
• Highlighting differentiation in your briefings/analysis
• Including at least 12 months of Internet security or anti-virus
• Filling out our fact check sheets
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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11. A Good PCMag Review: Cons
• Loading your system with bloatware
• Overpricing your system
• Forcing the reviewer to perform
driver updates and software re-
installations
• Not testing a system before
submitting it
• Sending unsolicited review units
• Neglecting to send all relevant
product information
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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12. An Editor’s Choice Winner
Sony VAIO VPC-Z116GXS:
• Beautiful Design
Slim, 3-pound, carbon fiber frame, good typing
experience
• Great parts
Core i5 CPU, SSD, 1600x900 resolution screen,
three USB ports and HDMI out
• Solid performance
Great PCMark Vantage and Cinebench R10
scores, as fast as the Lenovo ThinkPad T41,
Switchable graphics, solid 3D performance
Finally, the $1,800 price is similar to the other
Ultra-portable notebooks.
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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13. Editor’s Choice Awards
Laptops Desktops
• Business • Entry Level
• Netbook • Multimedia Mainstream
• Mainstream/Budget • All in One
• Gaming • Entry Level
• Small Business • Budget
• CULV • High End All in One
• Media Center/Desktop Replacement • Nettop All in One
• Ultraportable • Mainstream Gaming
• Workstation • High End Gaming
• Business
• Business
• Entry Level Gaming
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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14. System Trends for 2010
• More HDMI ports
• 4GB RAM configurations
• Touchscreens
• DisplayPort, particularly in business
• Quad core in the mainstream
• WiFi standard, even on desktops
• All in One designs
• Tablets
• More 3G-subsidized laptops
• Backlit keyboards
• Wireless Display
• Low cost Blu-ray laptops
©2008 Ziff Davis Media
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15. ©2010 Ziff Davis Media
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