Byte was one of the earliest home computer magazines. In at least its early days, it was subtitled The Small Systems Journal. It covered pretty much any computer that might be called a 'small system' or 'home computer' (which was a new term at the time). The June 1979 issue includes:
Byte: The Small Systems Journal (June 1979)
Byte is one of the oldest computer magazines. In 1979 it had already been around for several years and the original IBM PC was still a few years away. Yet there were still plenty of 'small systems' to cover. The August 1979 issue includes:
Byte: The Small Systems Journal (August 1979)
If you were looking for technical coverage of a variety of computers in the 1980s then Byte was the magazine for you. The August 1982 issue of Byte includes:
Byte (August 1982)
1976 was before the personal computer revolution really got going. That would happen the following year with the release of systems like the Commodore PET, Apple 2, Atari 400/800, and TRS-80. However, Byte was already covering computers for hobbyists and other small systems users. The July 1976 issue includes:
Byte (July 1976)
Byte was one of the earliest and most technical computer magazines available. In 1978, things were really starting to take off in the 'small computer' arena. The closest thing to a standard were the S100 bus based 8008 or Z80 machines running CP/M. However, the Commodore PET, TRS-80, and Apple II had all recently been introduced. The February 1978 issue of Byte includes:
Byte (February 1978)
Byte was perhaps the most successful early computer magazine. In its early days, it covered what would have been considered small business computers, hobbyist systems, and the first home computers. This issue from July 1981 is from shortly before the original IBM PC was introduced and includes:
Byte (July 1981)
Byte was one of the first computer magazines published in the U.S. It covered a wide variety of 'small systems' including both home computers and machines made for businesses. However, it seemed the popularity of Byte faded the more the popularity of the PC grew. Nevertheless, for much of its life it was extremely popular and issues were huge including this one from November 1988. Contents includes:
Byte (November 1988)/a>
Byte was among the earliest computer magazines. It was published from 1975 until 1998, covered just about every computer, and tended to lean toward the technical side. The August 1988 issue includes:
Byte (August 1988)
Byte was among the earliest computer magazines. It was published from 1975 until 1998. It covered a wide range of computers through its life. The October 1985 issue includes:
Byte (October 1985)
Subtitled "The Small Systems Journal", for most of its life, Byte wasn't strictly a "home" or personal computer magazine. It covered computers that would have been used by businesses, hobbyists, etc. though it did also, of course, cover home computers. In the early to mid 1980s, issues tended to be huge with this one coming in at about 564 pages. The April 1984 issue includes:
Byte (April 1984)
Byte was really meant more for computer hobbyists than just your average user. As such, it tended to have more technical content though it had plenty of typical reviews and other coverage as well. The July 1986 issue includes:
Source: Byte (July 1986)
Byte, subtitled 'The Small Systems Journal', was around for the birth of personal computing. It was still covering a wide variety of systems in 1984. The March 1984 issue includes:
Source: Byte (March 1984)
I'm not sure if Byte was the first computer magazine but I think of it as the original computer magazine. It was around before home computers were even a thing. Nevertheless, Byte was covering "small systems" or microcomputers used by businesses and hobbyists starting in 1975. The October 1979 issue includes:
Source: Byte (October 1979)
Byte tended to be the most technical of mainstream computer magazines though it became less so over time. It was not PC specific (after all, it was being published long before IBM's PC was released). 1981 was the same year the PC first appeared. If you owned a "home computer" it was likely made by Apple, Commodore, Atari, or Tandy. Personal computers on the business side were most often CP/M based. The November 1981 issue of Byte includes:
Byte tended to be the most technical of mainstream computer magazines though it became less so over time. It was not PC specific (after all, it was being published long before IBM's PC was released) but by the late 1980s, the majority of its coverage was oriented towards the PC. The May 1988 issue includes:
Byte had already been around for a few years by 1980. It's page count was already near 300 pages and still ramping up but the introduction of the IBM PC was still more than a year away (along with other popular machines like the Commodore 64). The January 1980 issue includes:
Source: Byte (January 1980)
Though off of its peak, Byte still had a respectable page count in the early 1990s with the April 1993 issue weighing in at over 300 pages. It had become somewhat less technical by this point but that was the way the market was going. This issue includes:
Source: Byte (April 1993)
Byte was a bit more technical than most mainstream computer magazines of the time. It really was more for hobbyists than just users. In 1980, the IBM PC still had not bee introduced yet. The closest thing to a standard were machines with an 8080/Z80 CPU, S-100 bus and CP/M but there were tons of proprietary systems. Home users would mostly have been using an Atari, Apple, Commodore, or Radio Shack machine. The October 1980 issue of Byte includes:
Byte was a bit more technical than most mainstream computer magazines of the time. It really was more for hobbyists than just users. The September 1987 issue includes:
Byte was a long running computer magazine that covered a wide variety of systems. It was around for a good chunk of early computer history from the 1970s through the early 1990s. In 1976, if you were into computers, you were probably assembling your own from parts and only had 4k or a luxurious 8k of RAM. If you could afford it, you might have had an IMSAI or MITS system with a 12-inch floppy drive running CP/M. The December 1976 issue of Byte includes:
