Both of the PC magazines are really low level consumer titles. Most of what they feature are wish lists of new tech gear, but no in-depth discussions. A recent cover asks us if we are ready for Windows Vista. It seems as though the editors of these two magazines think that PC means Windows. There isn't even coverage of Macintosh computers let alone linux. Wired is a business magazine with a strong eye towards the role technology plays in the economy. It's a magazine that is okay with it's place on the fringe of business commentary. In other words it's not trying to be like Forbes or Harvard Business Review. It has a niche audience, but continues to publish prescient articles that garner the attention of mainstream economists, CEOs, and investors. I highly recommend this one. Personally, though, I'd look to see if Scientific American, Scientific American Mind, and The Economist were part of your niece's magazine drive and get those. These are just some thoughts from a bookseller at a Barnes and Noble, though, so don't take them too seriously. Cheers, Benjamin