Michael Muchmore

My Experience

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time.  I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

Prior to my current role, I covered software and apps for ExtremeTech, and before that I headed up PCMag’s enterprise software team, but I’m happy to be back in the more accessible realm of consumer software. I’ve attended trade shows of Microsoft, Google, and Apple and written about all of them and their products.

I’m an avid bird photographer and traveler—I’ve been to 40 countries, many with great birds! Because I’m also a classical fan and former performer, I’ve reviewed streaming services that emphasize classical music.

My Areas of Expertise

• Photo editing software

• Video editing software

• Microsoft Windows

• Operating systems

• Web browsers

• Cloud storage and backup

• Music services

Technology I Use

For everyday work I use a good-old Dell tower with an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM running Windows 10. For offsite work, I use a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 running Windows 11. I downsized my camera from a Canon 6D with a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary zoom to an 80D with a Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens; holding that old setup to capture bird shots became too taxing.

The software I use most frequently includes Office 365, the Edge browser, Firefox, Brave, Lightroom, Photoshop, and Windows Phone Link. That last one beautifully hooks into my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone, which has unequaled telephoto capability.

I’ve gotten into fitness lately and rock a Fitbit Charge 5 and use an Anker Smart Scale P1. I’m also a streaming fan, so I subscribe to both Spotify (for its excellent personalized playlists) and Qobuz (for its sound quality and classical catalog). To avoid using a remote control, I use the Amazon Fire TV Cube in the living room, which lets me verbally tell the TV what I want to watch, attached to a Samsung HDTV. In the kitchen I have a Sonos One that also ties in with Alexa, also shared by my Echo Dot 2 with clock display in the bedroom. For serious listening, I have B&W 601 speakers hooked up to a Conrad-Johnson Sonographe amp and preamp. For reading, I have a Nook GlowLight 3.