''PC Ace'' was a

partwork A partwork is a written publication released as a series of planned magazine-like issues over a period of time. Issues are typically released on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, and often a completed set is designed to form a reference wo ...

magazine published by Eaglemoss Publications, between 1999 and 2001. It was aimed at those aged between 10 and 14, providing information on how to operate a

personal computer A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as Word processor, word processing, web browser, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and PC ...

. Readers of the magazine were assisted in part by a cartoon mouse named Ace, who featured throughout the magazine's pages. The series consisted of 100 parts, and was previously available for sale in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, and

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, among others.

Structure

''PC Ace'' was released on a weekly basis, with a CD-ROM accompanying the magazine every second issue (with the exception of part 1, which included two CD-ROM discs). These

CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains computer data storage, data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold b ...

discs contained programs such as computer games and

edutainment Educational entertainment, also referred to by the portmanteau edutainment, is media designed to education, educate through entertainment. The term has been used as early as 1933. Most often it includes content intended to teach but has inciden ...

titles. Issues that included a CD-ROM did not include the ''Wordpower'' section.

Sections

''PC Ace'' was divided into 9 sections, detailed below. * ''PC Power - Essential Skills'' - This section consisted of information on using core computer functions, such as using fonts and operating the

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

operating system. It was discontinued after part 12. * ''PC Power - Operating Skills'' - This section consisted of information that discussed use of the

operating system in a more in-depth manner, such as running games under

MS-DOS MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few op ...

and changing shortcut icons. * ''PC Power - Program Skills'' - This section focused on the use of software that ran within the

operating system, such as

Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is a word processor program, word processing program developed by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983, under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platf ...

and

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet editor developed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows, Windows, macOS, Android (operating system), Android, iOS and iPadOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a ...

. * ''Technozone'' - This section contained a collection of technology related articles that was built up as the series progressed. Topics included

Gamepads A gamepad is a type of video game controller held in two hands, where the fingers (especially thumbs) are used to provide input. They are typically the main input device for video game consoles. Features Some common additions to the standar ...

and

Animation Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animati ...

. * ''Online'' - This section consisted of information about how to use the internet and tools that were available online. Topics included creating a website and sending email. * ''On CD-ROM'' - This section was only included with issues that were accompanied by a CD-ROM. It had information on the background of the included program, as well as brief details of how to use it. * ''Wordpower'' - This section was an A - Z index of computing terms which built up as the series progressed, in alphabetical order, with their definitions included. * ''Timeout'' - This section provided details on how to create items such as party invitations and graphics, as well as how to play games that are included in the

operating system. * ''Cyberchat'' - This section contained technology related news items, as well as letters sent in by readers of the magazine (under the title of 'Ace's Noticeboard').

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pc Ace Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom Home computer magazines Magazines established in 1999 Magazines disestablished in 2000 Partworks Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom 1999 establishments in the United Kingdom