PC Magazine, which has documented the explosive growth of the personal computer since 1982, is dropping its print edition next year and going online.

PC Magazine, which has documented the explosive growth of the personal computer since 1982, is dropping its print edition next year and going online.

PaidContent.org, which covers digital media, reported Wednesday that PC Magazine publisher Ziff Davis Media, which recently exited Chapter 11, would publish the last print edition of the iconic magazine in January.

PaidContent said seven employees will be laid off as a result of the closure of the print edition of the magazine, which has suffered a steep drop in advertising as scores of competing publications cropped up online.

PaidContent said Ziff Davis had decided to concentrate on growing its online network of sites led by flagship PCmag.com.

© 2008 AFP