Who we are
Who is Laptop Mag? We’re your friendly, neighborhood geeks, excited to tell you about the latest and greatest happenings in mobile tech. We’re here to decipher all the tech jargon so you can make an informed decision on your next gadget purchase. And while our laptop coverage is our claim to fame, as the pulse of mobile tech, we bring the same geeky passion to a number of arenas such as tablets, audio, gaming and so much more.
What we do
Laptop Mag doesn’t just write about tech, we live and breathe it. Throughout the course of any given year, our staff reviews over 150 laptops. Upon arrival, the systems undergo a litany of tests designed to test performance, endurance and overall quality via synthetic and real world benchmarks. The same goes for tablets, smartphones and just about everything else that comes through the labs.
Speaking of the labs, when they’re not running our proprietary battery test, our crack testing squad is hard at work coming up with new ways of evaluating products. If you’re curious about how we test, check out this handy guide to learn what each test entails.
Why we do it
Let’s face it. There are a lot of cool gadgets out there. However, if you’re anything like us, you only have so much space and budget to indulge your techie wants. A laptop or any gadget for that matter, is an investment. To that end, we want to help you make the best purchasing decision for your use case and budget.
But we don’t stop there. We also want to help you get the most out of your shiny new gadget. That’s why in addition to news and reviews, we also offer a host of how-tos, explainers and face-offs to give you an idea of everything your tech can do.
Our history
Laptop Mag is a 30-year institution. Our journey began in 1991 when Bedford Communications launched the first issue of Laptop Buyers’ Guide and Handbook. Later, the publication’s name was shortened to LAPTOP as it expanded its focus to handhelds, smartphones and tablets. The publication won an Eddie award from Folio Magazine.
Laptop Mag was acquired by TechMedia Network (now Purch) in July 2011. In April 2013, we went 100 percent digital to provide millions of monthly visitors more current and comprehensive information. In 2014, we moved our smartphone coverage to sister site Tom’s Guide and made laptops the focus of Laptop Mag. In 2018, Purch was acquired by Future.
Meet the staff
The few, the proud, the Laptop Mag staff. The people on this bring their passion, expertise and joie de vivre to the business of writing about consumer technology. Got a hot tip, question about something we cover, feel free to reach out. Or just say hi.
Editor in Chief
Sherri L. Smith
An avid gamer, audiophile and lover of extra-large phones and super-fast gaming laptops, Sherri is the editor-in-chief of Laptop Mag and the first Black woman EIC of a major consumer tech publication. Sherri has covered consumer electronics for more than 15 years, writing for various publications such as Black Web 2.0, BET.com, FastCompany.com and Inc.com. Considered an expert in her field, she’s made appearances on CNN, Fox News, Cheddar and numerous panels discussing the joys and pitfalls of tech and gaming. Things that make her happy (aside from a good bourbon or scotch) include gaming hardware and software, premium tech, all things audio as well as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality and audio.
Assistant Managing Editor
Sean Riley
Sean Riley has spent over 12 years covering a wide range of tech including phones, wearables, tablets, smart home devices, laptops, AR, VR, mobile payments, fintech, and more. Now as the Assistant Managing Editor of Laptop Mag, Sean is the resident mobile expert, specializing in phones and wearables, and you’ll find plenty of news, reviews, how-to, and opinion pieces on these subjects from him here. But Laptop Mag is a perfect fit for that broad range of interests with reviews and news on the latest laptops, VR games, and computer accessories along with coverage on everything from NFTs to cybersecurity and more.
Editor
Rami Tabari
Rami Tabari is an Editor for Laptop Mag. He reviews every shape and form of a laptop as well as all sorts of cool tech. You can find him sitting at his desk surrounded by a hoarder’s dream of laptops, and when he navigates his way out to civilization, you can catch him watching really bad anime or playing some kind of painfully difficult game. He’s the best at every game and he just doesn’t lose. That’s why you’ll occasionally catch his byline attached to the latest Souls-like challenge.
Editor
Kimberly Gedeon
Kimberly Gedeon is an explorer of futuristic, Ready Player One-esque virtual realities. You’ll get second-hand embarrassment from reading her disastrous dating-in-VR experience, but you’ll thank for her guide on how to purchase real estate in the metaverse. Holding a Master’s degree in International Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University, Kimberly kicked off her career writing about tech, personal finance and entrepreneurship for young women of color at MadameNoire for nearly five years, covering everything from the Consumer Electronics Show to cryptocurrency in a quirky, relatable voice. One of her articles even got featured on FOX’s “The Real.” Her work has also been featured on BuzzFeed, LoveToKnow, TheGrio, and more. Now, Kimberly found her happy home at Laptop Mag, dispelling confusion about NFTs, reviewing VR horror games that make her hurl, and interviewing tech-loving celebrities for “Systems of the Stars.”
Editor
Darragh Murphy
Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it’s connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.
Deals Editor
Hilda Scott
Hilda Scott uses her combined passion for gadgets and bargain shopping to bring you the best prices on all things tech. She has a bachelor’s degree in film and media studies from Hunter College and 11 years of tech and entertainment journalism. Her work has been featured on Tom’s Guide, iTechPost, Examiner.com, Parlemag, Enstars, and Latin Times. When she’s not scouting for the best deals, Hilda’s catching up on her favorite TV shows and pro-wrestling matches.
Deals Writer
Jason England
Jason brings over a decade of tech and gaming journalism experience to his role as a writer at Laptop Mag. He specializes in finding the best deals to make sure you never pay more than you should for gadgets! Jason takes a particular interest in writing and creating videos about laptops, headphones and games. He has previously written for Kotaku, Stuff and BBC Science Focus. In his spare time, you’ll find Jason looking for good dogs to pet or thinking about eating pizza if he isn’t already.
Contributing Writer
Mark Anthony Ramirez
Mark has spent 20 years headlining comedy shows around the country and with appearances on ABC, MTV, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, Food Network, and Sirius XM Radio. He has written about every topic imaginable, from dating, family, politics, social issues, and tech. He wrote his first tech articles for the now-defunct Dads On Tech 10 years ago, and his passion for combining humor and tech has grown under the tutelage of the Laptop Mag team. His penchant for tearing things down and rebuilding them did not make Mark popular at home, however, when he got his hands on the legendary Commodore 64, his passion for all things tech deepened. These days, when he is not filming, editing footage, tinkering with cameras and laptops, or on stage, he can be found at his desk snacking, writing about everything tech, new jokes, or scripts he dreams of filming.
Contributing Writer
Momo Tabari
Self-described art critic and unabashedly pretentious, Momo finds joy in impassioned ramblings about their closeness to video games. They have a bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Media Studies from Brooklyn College and five years of experience in entertainment journalism. Momo is a stalwart defender of the importance found in subjectivity and spends most days overwhelmed with excitement for the past, present and future of gaming. When they aren’t writing or playing Dark Souls, they can be found eating chicken fettuccine alfredo and watching anime.
Head of Testing
Matthew Murray
As head of testing for Future plc, Matthew helps coordinate and conduct product testing for many of the company’s editorial brands—including Laptop. Matthew’s writing and editing for technology has been seen at a variety of publications including Tom’s Guide, PCMag, ExtremeTech, and Computer Shopper; and he’s also worked at a variety of theater-oriented publications including Stage Directions, TheaterMania, and Talkin’ Broadway, at which he was the chief New York theater critic for more than 16 years. He has edited eight books and is currently working on his ninth. He earned his B.A. in Dramatic Writing from Western Washington University, where he also studied Internet technologies and German.
Lab Tester
Madeline Ricchiuto
Madeline Ricchiuto is a lab tester at Future, testing products for Tom’s Guide, Tom’s Hardware, and Laptop Magazine. Prior to working at Future, Madeline was the Head Games Writer and Editor at Bleeding Cool and a QA tester with LiquidSky Software. She’s also written for various publications including CG Magazine, Marvel Entertainment, and Diver Magazine.
Contributing Producer
Peter Norman
Peter (PJ) Norman has worked in the photography, film, and music fields since graduating with a Music Science degree in London in 2000. He moved to New York in 2009 to be a freelance producer and creative and has been based in the city ever since. His film work has been accepted to multiple International film festivals including Sundance and Locarno, and his passion for music has led to contributions on more than 10 full-length albums. Peter will occasionally test and write about things that inspire him for Laptop Mag when he isn’t helping on the multimedia side of things. He is happiest when lost in the play of light and sound with his Nikon FM2 and a roll of black-and-white film.
Write for us
We’re always looking for fresh voices to extol the virtues of mobile technology. Want to write a review? Got an interesting opinion you’d like to share? Please contact us at laptopmagpitches@futurenet.com.
If you’re looking for something more permanent check out the Future Careers site for any openings.
LaptopMag is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism.
If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact laptopmag@futurenet.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk.
