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Microsoft bribing bloggers with free high-spec laptops
istartedsomething.com — W...T...F... Microsoft has been sending out free top-of-the-line laptops pre-loaded with Vista to bloggers. "No strings attached". This is of course right before the launch of Vista to consumers. Make no mistake -- these weren't loans, they were 'gifts'.
danwarne- 1049 diggs
- digg it
- BlakeHandler, on 10/12/2007, -11/+122Companies have always sent free stuff to reporters -- so why not key bloggers? This isn't bad -- it makes sense!
- h0zae, on 10/12/2007, -10/+93on MS's side for once - this is common practice - jealous bloggers are going to ***** that they did not get one...
- RadiantBeing, on 10/12/2007, -11/+22The difference is that reporters have to return all the review products they get. David Pogue caused a minor controversy this year when he reviewed a data recovery service that recovered his data from a crashed drive for free. He was ethically obligated to pay for the service.
However, you are right. Industry finds ways to influence journalists all the time. I'm not saying that they bribe them. It's more subtle than that. They make reporters think twice about their products by providing everything from insider access, to meals, to junkets, to high profile CEO appearances at the conference you're organizing, etc.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5281529 - thunderer, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4I didn't hear about the David Pogue controversy... Does anyone have a link?
- nbx909, on 10/12/2007, -18/+29where do i sign up? I'd love a free laptop to install linux on.
- thunderer, on 10/12/2007, -13/+2Okay, I'm a moron. I should have checked the NPR link first.
Digg me down. - DCUK, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18These people are celebrities to enough people, celebrities get free things all the time.
Cars, watches, you name it they get it. - schestowitz, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3Recent news:
Microsoft Traps and Hunts for Bloggers in India !!
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has announced the "Microsoft BlogStars" contest, to Hunts
| for Developer Bloggers in India. After feeling the power and increase of
| the Bloggers community in India, Microsoft tries to trap and hunt Bloggers
| in India to buildup the blogging community, for writing blog posts
| supporting towards Microsoft Technologies.
`----
http://i5bala.blogspot.com/2006/10/microsoft-traps-and-hunts-for-bloggers.html - bias, on 10/12/2007, -20/+34danwarne = dumb fxxking retarded fanboy
Hmmm, if this is bribing, then W... T... F... was Linux doing all these years? Bribing all the fanboys to spam on Digg.com? Giving out free OS with "No strings attached"!?
Stop all these spinning / spamming / accusing / blaming ***** on Microsoft, tell us what Microsoft did wrong all you want, but please don't exclude all the others who did the exact same thing. Not everything Microsoft does is evil, they may not make the best OS out there, but they must did something right to get billions of people to use their OS instead of Linux/Apple. You are one of the news editors APC Magazine, you should know these brainless "bias" (LOL) articles are *****. But hell no, you read it and think OMG this is a brilliant article that you can use to bash Microsoft on Digg! and this is why I call all of you fanboys "dumb fxxking retards". - Michalson, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11I'm going to have to back this up - as far as the tech press goes, we *prefer*, to the point of normally demanding, that all product "samples" be no strings attached. If the unit is a loaner, we can't take it apart or are otherwise restricted in what we can look at or experiment with because we are "borrowing" it. With the way things work a loaner is always a company controlled test - they get to dictate the terms and so can control what we say or don't say.
Granted some people can take items as "bribes", but that's really up to your trust of the person. If you don't trust the person, it doesn't matter what terms the review item was given under. There are many, many other ways to bribe reviewers, and providing the review product for free is pretty low on that scale because the review might have no need or want of the item for themselves. Expensive meals, hotel stays and executive type swag items are all higher up on the bribe meter. If you want to see this in action, just look at how openly movie "critics" are bought - it's not the free copy of the movie (it tends to be the opposite, with the legitimate reviewers getting a DVD prerelease in the mail to review on their own terms), instead the bribe takers get a first class flight to a 5 star luxury hotel with everything included to watch a screening and speak to a director or cast member (the interviews are actually done as a round table).
There are better ways, like actually buying the product yourself, but especially in places like tech this isn't financially feasable, and often reviews are required to be written *before* the product comes out (magazines can have several months of lead time, meaning a review for a November release game needs to be written in August). Some places that don't have the time problem have interesting solutions - HardOCP has managed to convince some PC vendors to go with a plan where they secret shopper the item, review it, then send the invoices back to the vendor under their real name to get their money refunded. - walkingalone, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4calm down man
- barius, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7@bias
Gift of Linux CD:
$0.50 disk - 1 hour of your life to try it + A chance to be Free = Priceless
Gift of MS Laptop (not returned):
$2,300 - All credibility - 1 soul = MS Zombie - HMTKSteve, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11Where do I sign up? My laptop is 6 years old!
Just think, I could write an article on how Ubuntu works when dual booted with Vista! - SniperX, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7Shoot, I'd sing Microsoft's praises for a "free high-spec laptop"
- Pezza131214, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5This isn't exactly "giving out our new product so you can try it out" as Microsoft doesn't make laptops. If Microsoft were giving out free copies of Vista's final release, (a $450 value) it would be different. It's kind of like receiving a new car when you write a good review about the dice that hang on mirrors.
I'm not saying that it's unfair, as Apple certainly could hand out free laptops (the difference is, that apple makes laptops), but it means that you can't really pay too much attention to reviews from bloggers, and you'll have to form your own opinion by trying windows vista, yourself. - kipmarlowe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4No, the Earth hasn't moved but something is being set in motion, a step that until now has actually been unprecedented in the blogosphere. Really clever of Microsoft partnering with AMD (still only a chip maker) so that a software company could give influential bloggers such a friggin' whopper of a gift, way way more than mere the included Windows Vista software license — software only being the norm even in conventional and print media. And I hate mentioning these two farking companies in the same damn breath but Apple, a HardWare company, has yet to give such a gift to the blogosphere, and what seems to be the entire blogosphere, at that. Oh, but they will because it'll be an accepted practice soon enough, just like lobbying in Washington and commercials in movie theaters. But it's not about Microsoft or Apple.
It's about living in an Information Society, the citizens of which are finding better ways to bypass the increasingly sophisticated manipulation of that information. Until the Internet the number of publications that didn't accept gifts or advertising had basically whittled down to Consumer Reports and a few niche players. I hardly ever enter these discussions, but in this case I'd really like to contribute to what I hope will be a PR crisis for Microsoft, AMD, Apple, or any other company with such inappropriately infiltrating marketing tactics.
I don't want to lean this way or that as a result of information bombardment, suspect influence, or spin, not politically, nor as a consumer. Screw Apple and Microsoft, Tiger or Vista, Red or Blue, Kennedy, Reagan, Bush and Obama. Just give it to me straight, please.
And stay the ***** away from those precious few sources of information that finally, for once, I don't have to weigh and sift n_e_a_r_ly as much as in the media-consolidated sleeze we call our "Information Society." I'm a tech enthusiast but the sooty, backwards, "Industrial Age" is beginning to look better and better with each passing decade . . . - dgp1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6MS can afford great Xmas presents, so why shouldn't they give them!
As far as "bribery" goes, I wouldn't say Vista's the bee's knees knowing it really wasn't, just because of a free notebook BUT... it would make me want to review it when I wouldn't otherwise, (A) because this is the only way I'd have access to Vista in the first place, and (B) because I consider that a very acceptable exchange--my consideration and time to write the review, in exchange for a beautiful notebook.
I say, Go Microsoft!
PS: I could be called a Mac fanboy, so no accusations of being pro-MS in general. - CryoNine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Like the others have stated I'm having a hard time finding this objectionable as well. It's a common practice, kudos to the MS marketing department for targeting yet another review audience.
- 23r17i05o42n, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5Haha, it's hilarious seeing all you xbox and windows fanboys defending Microsoft for an obvious bribe! If this were Sony you would be ***** your pants.
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3MS is getting desperate. Or maybe bloggers are becoming more powerful.
- rmxz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1I find an easy way to object - It is a bribe (yes, the people who bribe politicians say they're gifts with no strings too) and anyone who writes positive stuff about it is probably doing so because of the $2500 toy rather than because they actually like Vista.
I, on the other hand, didn't get a $2500 toy from them; even though my online work at least matches some of the bloggers they supported; so I'm not very inclined to say much nice about them besides "Vista is good if they give you a free $2500 laptop to go with it - otherwise I'd suggest you stay away from Vista if you have to pay for it with your own money, and hope to find some other way to get them to pay you more than it costs to use it" - strabes, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0@barius: nice one.
@23r17i05o42n: word
@bias: I don't understand your argument that "giving away" linux freely counts as a bribe. Linux is free, in both senses of the word. It makes no difference in developers' wallets whether people say it is good or bad, or how many people use it. Ever thought that perhaps the reason we like linux so much is that we think it's better? There's a reason why when people try linux, they don't go back. I'm not going to get into a Windows vs. linux debate because it's all personal preference, but don't bash linux. Otherwise, we might return the favor while using our faster, more secure, open, equally functional, and free operating systems. - mypcpros, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I can't stand people talking bad about MS all the time either. They are a company that is in business to make money, but unlike some companies, Bill Gates donates tons of money to charities.
http://www.mypcpros.com/computer-blog/2006/12/14/microsoft-is-it-really-an-evil-empire.html - hackmyballs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Vistola!
M$ please bribe me hahahhahhaahah
- amandaw33, on 10/12/2007, -9/+85If apple did the same promoting newest iLife releases.. they'd be considered brilliant
- superdue, on 10/12/2007, -10/+47I agree completely. This is quite normal and if Apple had done the same thing the title would probably read something like ' OMG WTF BBQ Sauce....Apple is giving away MacBook Pro's to bloggers. Apple Rocks! Finally, a forward thinking company that acknowledges the online media comunity.' But MS beat them to the punch and this is the response from a bitter blogger. I've got 10 bucks that says he has a Tiger OS X bumper sticker on his segway.
- TomP, on 10/12/2007, -17/+5they'd be considered brilliant
...Already are ;) - bumblescrump, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5You beat me to it, I use a mac, but I can't stand the way people put apple on a pedestal. Read "NO LOGO" by Naomi Klien, it was hard for me not to think about Apple fanboys the entire time i read it.
- dr00, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2that was my very first thought.
- Raian, on 10/12/2007, -21/+5I'd hate to see what they give to buy off magazine writers and editors...
- rapiddemon, on 10/12/2007, -10/+15$250 and a blowjob
- twtmc, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7I'd take it
- HalBSure, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I still haven't gotten my $250.
- Wobs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+42What's the issue here exactly?
- GravyTrain6, on 10/12/2007, -1/+38someone is bitter (ie...the author of this article)
- naio21, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Someone has not been given a free laptop (i.e. the submitter of this article).
- mcduckov, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The issue is that people ought to quit reading blogs. Blogs are the online equivalent of a turd in the pool. Get a net a flush--don't stand there and marvel at the freekin thing.
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3[quote]What's the issue here exactly?[/quote]
Vista sucks and MS is resorting to bribery in the hopes of influencing public opinion.
You're going to have to give away a bit more than laptops, MS! Try taking out the DRM from Vista for starters.
- donjaime, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Every company does this. They release products to press for review purposes etc..
The title is quite misleading.- jakejarvis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Exactly. Sprint has been doing this for almost a year.
http://ambassador.sprint.com/Faq.aspx
http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/03/27/sprints-ambassador-program-the-samsung-a920/
http://justin.everett-church.com/index.php/2006/02/27/sprint-ambassador-program/
http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/01/06/smart-sprints-unadvertisement/ - Thuktun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This can also backfire, if the free products suck. They can motivate someone to write a review when they previously wouldn't have bothered.
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/09/19b.html
"The phone they sent me, an LG Fusic, is really quite awful, and the service, Power Vision, is tremendously misconceived and full of dumb features that don’t work right and cost way too much."
- jakejarvis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Exactly. Sprint has been doing this for almost a year.
- ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Where's mine?
- pintomp3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21lemme guess, this blogger didn't get one. hater.
- tjplaw, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3If I got one I would reformat the hard drive and put Ubuntu on it,
Thanks Microsoft- cquinnd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"no strings attached" means you could do exactly that I suppose. The point of sending it to select bloggers though is that the majority of them will at least try the system out and write about the experience first.
- cquinnd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"no strings attached" means you could do exactly that I suppose. The point of sending it to select bloggers though is that the majority of them will at least try the system out and write about the experience first.
- KarbonKopy, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0Dead for anyone else?
- SirBotchness, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7They gave away free Zune's too. How do they expect people to get reviews of their products if they don't shell out a few feebies to respected folks who can give a fair review? Good move. And if people are bitching about getting free computers, then just give it to me and i'll be happy.
- danisse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5They flew bloggers out to Redmond to have some time hands-on with the Zune, but they didn't get to keep them. Yes, free trip. No free Zune.
- thunderer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Well, anyone who had a reviewer's Zune wasn't really allowed to review it properly, with the restrictive/ridiculous reviewers' agreement and all...
I wonder if this is the same kind of deal. - SirBotchness, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Kinda weird since i've seen other bloggers state they've recieved up to 3 free zunes from microsoft. but i guess that doesn't count.
- cavemonkey50, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4You're right about Bloggers getting Zunes. I got a free Zune from Microsoft. I received it about 2 months before launch, but had to give it back a week before launch. The review restrictions were so ridiculous. You basically couldn't say anything bad about the product, leaving me with a horribly generic review, if you could call it one. I basically only talked about the appearance since saying anything bad about the interface was off limits due to still being "beta".
My review in case anyone wants to see how generic I had to make it: http://cavemonkey50.com/2006/11/looking-forward-to-the-zune/
- brian1001001, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11Shame on you and your yellow journalistic title. Bad submitter! No digg!
=P - infowar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Awesome, can I get one? I'll start blogging for vista!
- RonaldLewis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Hey, Microsoft -- or any other company -- can send any piece of snazzy hardware they'd like! I'd gladly disclose it, then put the new goodies to use, because I could really use some newer hardware for the podcasts I produce. It's time for an upgrade.
- drifter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7They gave Acer Ferrari laptops. I'd take it.
- Dakk, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5That's how much you cost to prostitute yourself?
- dynamit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This is something good. MS is realizing the power of new media and sending bloggers stuff instead of only working with old media. Marked as inaccurate. There is nothing suspicious going on here.
- greatromance, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I don't understand why this looks like a "bad" thing for Microsoft to be doing. Bribing bloggers? Bribing them for what gain? The title and description of this submission makes it look like it's a bad thing for Microsoft to do something like this, when it's not.
- Wolfboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Yes, companies seeking publicity often give stuff to the media -- bloggers, TV reporters, newspaper reporters, etc. Free samples frequently arrive unannounced.
Media outlets that aim to protect their credibility with their audience have policies about whether to accept the freebies. Hardware/software received for review is to be returned at the end of the review testing, etc. Some places are so strict that if a reporter, columnist, staff blogger, producer, etc., visits someone for an interview, they're not allowed to accept anything, not even a cup of coffee. - blacklilyninja, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6no strings?
step one: format
step two: install ubuntu (or anything other than a microsoft OS)- cquinnd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6step one: honestly review the system and do a write up on your blog for new page hits.
step two: if you choose that path, do an honest review of the other OS as well on the same hardware.
Otherwise you are applying your own "strings" to the deal.
- cquinnd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6step one: honestly review the system and do a write up on your blog for new page hits.
- brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I'll say good things about Microsoft for a free laptop. I could rave all day about their keyboards and mice.
- kutaone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Im guessing the submitter is like 15 years old and has no idea what marketing and good PR is...just guessing...
- sirdaz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Microsoft can never win can they.
They do something bad, there hunted and killed.
Do something good? Slated and insulted. - twatwaffle, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Ill do it if its a Macbook Pro
- graphmac1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have no shame, gimme gimme!
- Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I blog on a site called "digg", where's my notebook?
- Dakk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Nope, you post comments on a web site that functions as a community ratings-based news aggregator, thus this article was written:
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36578 - assassinmaids, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1well I won't give you a laptop but I will give "you" person of the year...
- Dakk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Nope, you post comments on a web site that functions as a community ratings-based news aggregator, thus this article was written:
- freff, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I have no comment on the original story. It's pretty much a non-story. I just want to say from reading through the comments here, I had no idea just how many wannabe tech bloggers hang out here at digg. Everyone almost simultaneously and with one voice started begging for a new laptop.
- emdub, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Step 1: Pretend to like MS enough to get free laptop
Step 2: ???*
Step 3: Profit!
* Rumored to be install OSX86, live happily ever after. - ajrahim, on 10/12/2007, -6/+5All I got to say about this is WTF has APPLE or GOOGLE done for its bloggers other than give ***** products?
***** YOU HATERS!
and SUCK MY BALLS! - aftk2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Hah, this is funny - from one of the blog of one of the folks who received a laptop:
"During the holidays I'll be busy playing with my new laptop - the Acer Ferrari 5000. Yup, I traded in my Dell XPS 1710 for a little something different."
And then...
"UPDATE 12/27: This is indeed a laptop donated by Microsoft and AMD. As Callie pointed out in comments, I should have pointed this out sooner. I had intended to explain where this laptop came from in a more in-depth post. "
Ah hah...yeah, right. Credibility, much?- HalBSure, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Oh dear, that made me laugh. An excellent example!
- memoBug, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Maybe this is a response to the is a response to that Zune thing: Most (all?) of the bloggers recently invited to visit in-person with Gates and "meet the Zune" showed up with Macs.
http://www.micropersuasion.com/2006/12/our_sixty_minut.html - markdr123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Welcome to the world of P.R.!
- tysonwilliams, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I would want one... just not sure if I want Vista on it :)
- Kappa3, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I get the impression from the author and a lot of comments here that MS did this out of the kindness of their hearts... How painfully obvious is it that this is only a marketing campaign, not generosity.
- naio21, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Of course it is. And there is no problem with it.
- orbit1979, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I don't see what the problem is. Microsoft is giving away free high-powered laptops to bloggers who write positive articles about Microsoft. So what? Is this any different then the BadVista.org nonsense? Is this any different than the multitude of inaccurate, biased anti-Microsoft tech tabloids that get posted on digg on almost a daily basis?
*****, if I was a blogger I would totally go for it! A free high-powered laptop, I would be a fool not to take the deal, especially when Microsoft products have actually worked quite well for me.
Dugg down as yet another anti-Microsoft tech tabloid *****. - raccettura, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Laptops for free...
I'm still waiting for my free flash drive! - spunquik, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I work for a Toronto newspaper, and we send out "gifts" all the time.
its a part of business. - NYG1988, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2How is this any different from when Apple sends out the new generation of iPods to bloggers so that they can sing their praises?
- xsecretfiles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1DIGG is giving away FREE SHIRTS, Spread the word
- CryoNine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1http://www.duggmirror.com
- Thuktun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Both the linked site and the mirror redirect to Coral Cache, which many will not be able to access due to firewalled ports.
- consonance, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Microsoft: Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
- jman8888, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1they have the same specs as a macbook pro..
- ewang, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Well, for what it's worth, I'm giving away a free game. Just check out www.bklovr.com for DL and screenshots. Granted it's not as sexy as a free laptop, and I'm making it available to everyone and not just bloggers, but hey - at least it's free :-)
- MistressRoninS, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Ewang, I am going to check out your site more later on but I like it so far. I also am composing a similar format of a graphic novel. Its great to see others do this. Perhaps I can learn more from you on the process.
But to stay on topic, I think the free release is a brilliant idea for you and your product and also a good way to generate reviews. MS, in my opinion is just trying to get a valuable real opinion from bloggers by providing a no strings gift. Lots of media lately has been focused on how important real and honest word of mouth is by way of the blogosphere, how competitive it is becoming with the expertise of a professional journalist's review.
It is not surprising to me that MS has contrived such an idea. I am certain more will follow after the footprint is made by MS. If companies want to stay ahead of the marketing currents, they inevitably cannot deny the resources within the blogger's opinion.
Real opinion, honest opinion cannot be bought.
From the beginning, I have always wondered about blogging, found it difficult to write a personal journal when it has an audience and it becomes "Dear reader" instead of "Dear journal", in the traditional format of a personal log.
I have always had conflicts with the direction and content when I understand that I am writing before an audience and have, as a result, often kept my blogs as private, revealing only to close friends who I feel need perspective on an aspect of my life.
With the new format of public blogging, the audience has changed that. I am slowly evolving into an understanding that for me, a public blog must begin as a public blog and a personal blog, remains personal from the start.
My concern is that like all trends, it will become diluted and future bloggers will suffer their art through the exposure given by the media and companies hungry for a new avenue to market their products to an ever discriminating customer base.
Perhaps the self-directed personal style blog will become a rarity and the genre, when left alone will finally return to the original creative state from which it began.
- MistressRoninS, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Ewang, I am going to check out your site more later on but I like it so far. I also am composing a similar format of a graphic novel. Its great to see others do this. Perhaps I can learn more from you on the process.
- TheAgencyBlog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Many folks here seem to be very emotional. Quit getting your panties in a wad. There's no need to get all worked up about this. This is a common practice that happens across all forms of media and across all industries. It happens at conferences as well. Keep in mind that Microsoft also runs a risk of this backfiring if the product doesn't perform as expected.
- Junkyarddawg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Damn it Microsoft - dont you know only console producers may give away hardware to journalists and bloggers!
(That's sarcasm, for the sarcasm impaired. Hardware companies have *always* given away free hardware to journalists. It's marketing.)- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4But why is MS resorting to bribes if it is so confident about Vista?
Something isn't right in the evil empire. - HonoredMule, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4At the peak of his career, companies would donate large amounts of merchandise to Michael J. Fox with no strings attached. They did so just on the chance that he might be seen enjoying their stuff, which would indirectly endorse it. Is that unethical? He wasn't even required to accept the merchandise, or use it, or even NOT give it negative press.
Now explain to me how this laptop scenario is any different. Just because it's good for Microsoft and awesome for the bloggers doesn't make it wrong.
(Note that I used Michael J. Fox as my example as I read his biography and can be certain that I'm not exaggerating or fabricating details. I imagine hundreds of other celebrities, reporters, or otherwise important people could also have been used.)
It's also generally considered a good thing when you are nice to the people who are nice to you...
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4But why is MS resorting to bribes if it is so confident about Vista?
- motters, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4As a blogger myself if Microsoft sent me a laptop I'd say "thank you", and then install Ubuntu on it.
- Rekzai, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Why didn't I get a friggen laptop
- KiaserLies, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1why when microsoft rewards people its called a bribe i hate poeple who hate windows windows is the best thing ever made imaging a world without windows. so what if its got a few faults. nothng n this world is perfect stop whining. dissing windows doesn't make u leet or cool. most people diss windows on windows
- thunderer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1No, it certainly doesn't "make u leet or cool". It does make you honest. Yes they're screwed no matter what they do. I'm not praising that; but insisting that _any_ company is perfect is more wrong than Richard Simmons' exercise routines.
- sh4rkb1t3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Windows vista is the best thing I've ever used.
I'll take my free laptop now. - macewan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2wonder if Ubuntu would work well on it
- truck87bp, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Giving away Vista cause they don't expect anyone to buy it..........
- terstin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2There is nothing wrong with providing a computer to a tech journalist in order for them to review the experience that users would get if they bought the product. In this case most people will encounter Vista as the OS on a new PC, so providing a laptop is ok. It is standard practice. However, it is completely unethical to "gift" the computer to the reviewer. Ethical PR organizations provide their products to reviewer's with the expectation that the reviewer will return the product once the review is complete. This is the standard practice in the tech industry. Car companies don't "gift" cars to automotive journalists and so shouldn't Microsoft. This is another unethical attempt at influencing naive bloggers. They did this with the Zune. Witness the unprecedented coverage the Zune received on Gizmodo. Combined with the regular ad buy-out delivered by the HD-DVD forum, it appears MS has sunk to new lows with their PR efforts. Fortunately the market is able to see through to the real product. The Zune couldn't outsell a record player at Amazon.com for most of the holiday season (until the record player sold out of stock), and I expect people will see that Vista meets the same product quality delivered by the Zune.
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