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Tom's Hardware
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p><i>Tom's Hardware</i> was founded in 1996 as <i>Tom's Hardware Guide</i> in Canada by Thomas Pabst.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> It started using the domain tomshardware.com in September 1997 and was followed by several foreign language versions, including Italian, French, Finnish and Russian based on franchise agreements.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>While the initial testing labs were in Germany and California,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> much of <i>Tom's Hardware</i>'s testing now occurs in New York and a facility in <a href="/facts/Ogden%2c_Utah/9rDuKwfn">Ogden, Utah</a> owned by its parent company. In April 2007, the site was acquired by the French company Bestofmedia Group.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> In July 2013, that company was acquired by <a href="/facts/TechMediaNetwork%2c_Inc./IF7nR36S">TechMediaNetwork, Inc.</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> which changed its name to Purch in April 2014.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Purch's consumer brands, including <i>Tom's Hardware</i>, were acquired by <a href="/facts/Future_plc/c5Whyl4C">Future</a> in 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>The site celebrated its 20th anniversary in May 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> Beyond continuous publication of the website, it is known for its overclocking championships and other contests.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="editors">Editors</h2> <p>Avram Piltch is the current editor-in-chief of <i>Tom's Hardware</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> Prior to starting the position in 2018, he worked for sister sites <i>Tom's Guide</i> and <i>Laptop Mag.</i> Prior to that, John A. Burek, formerly of <a href="/facts/Computer_Shopper_(US_magazine)/vQmDMfy8"><i>Computer Shopper</i></a>, briefly held the role.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p><p>Burek succeeded Fritz Nelson, who served from August 2014 through 2017. Other former editors-in-chief include Chris Angelini (July 2008 – July 2014), Patrick Schmid (2005–2006), David Strom (2005), Omid Rahmat (1999–2003) and founder Thomas Pabst (1996–2001).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="related-publications">Related publications</h2> <p><i>Tom's Hardware</i> is owned by <a href="/facts/Future_plc/c5Whyl4C">Future plc</a>, which also owns a number of other websites. In technology, those include <i>Tom's Guide</i> (formerly <i>Gear Digest</i>),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> <i>Laptop Mag</i> and <i><a href="/facts/AnandTech/as9JU8ER">AnandTech</a></i>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> as well as science sites like <a href="/facts/Live_Science/jDhfHfY0"><i>LiveScience</i></a> and <i><a href="/facts/Space.com/1H06DeGz">Space.com</a></i>. </p><p>In March 2018 the German spin-off was to be closed because of the new data/privacy laws, but continued as an independent site (tomshw.de), with an exclusive license for the local usage of the brand name.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p><p>In July 2019 the license was returned. After that the German CEO and editor-in-chief of the gotIT! Tech Media GmbH started a new website Igor´sLAB<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> and his own Youtube channel.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="toms-guide"> <i>Tom's Guide</i></h2> <p><i>Tom's Guide</i> (formerly known as <i>GearDigest</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a>) is an online publication owned by <a href="/facts/Future_plc/c5Whyl4C">Future</a> that focuses on technology, with editorial teams in the US, UK and Australia. <i>Tom's Guide</i> was launched in 2007 by Bestofmedia, which was subsequently acquired by TechMediaNetwork in 2013; in 2014, TechMediaNetwork changed its name to Purch, which was acquired by Future in 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> Primarily focused on news, reviews, price comparisons, how-tos and guides, <i>Tom's Guide</i> also features opinion articles and deals content. </p><p>The site features coverage on <a href="/facts/CPU/Jxp1bqMV">CPUs</a>, <a href="/facts/Motherboard/GXB10heG">motherboards</a>, <a href="/facts/RAM/DuD4bxh6">RAM</a>, PC cases, <a href="/facts/Graphic_card/bcKfPyFt">graphic cards</a>, display technology, <a href="/facts/Computer_monitor/NRaTDFHc">displays</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_storage/wPHKFpdx">storage</a>, smartphones, tablets, gaming, consoles, fitness and health, home, smart home, streaming, security and <a href="/facts/Peripheral/3lEBPE14">computer peripherals</a>. </p><p>It is the second-largest consumer technology, news and review site from the US with 68.4 million visits in September 2022.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <h3>History</h3> <p><i>Tom’s Guide</i> was originally launched as <i>GearDigest</i> by Bestofmedia before being re-named to <i>Tom's Guide</i>. The publication was subsequently acquired by TechMediaNetwork in 2013; in 2014, TechMediaNetwork changed its name to Purch, which was then acquired by <a href="/facts/Future_plc/c5Whyl4C">Future</a> in 2018. </p><p>While the initial testing labs were in Germany and California, much of <i>Tom’s Guide</i>'s testing now occurs in New York and a facility in <a href="/facts/Ogden%2c_Utah/9rDuKwfn">Ogden, Utah</a> owned by its parent company, <a href="/facts/Purch_Group/IF7nR36S">Purch</a>. </p><p>In April 2007, the site was acquired by the French company Bestofmedia Group. In July 2013, that company was acquired by <a href="/facts/TechMediaNetwork%2c_Inc./IF7nR36S">TechMediaNetwork, Inc.</a>, which changed its name to Purch in April 2014. </p><p>The site celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2022. Beyond continuous publication of the website, it is known for its annual CES awards<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> and <i>Tom's Guide</i> Awards<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> that are held in June and July each year. </p> <h3>Editors</h3> <p>Mark Spoonauer is the current Global Editor-in-Chief and has been since 2013.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> Before that, he worked as the Editor-in-Chief of <i><a href="/facts/Laptop_Mag/pRlQgF9Q">Laptop Mag</a></i> since 2003.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> </p><p>Mike Prospero is the current US Editor-in-Chief alongside Managing Editors Philip Michaels, Jason England, Nick Pino and Senior Deals Editor Louis Ramirez.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/CNET/FefqENNr">CNET</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/TechCrunch/9gs5SykU">TechCrunch</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_Internet_forums/CzjmNHLA">List of Internet forums</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.tomshardware.com/">Official website</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Boutin, Paul (May 2001). 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