Microsoft Vista laptop giveaway sparks blogger debate

[McGhee]

Microsoft has sparked a major debate in the blogosphere after the company
gave away laptops and Windows Media Desktop systems running Windows Vista to
several dozen bloggers.

Critics were quick to dismiss the handouts as a bribe. Microsoft labelled
the computers, which retail at $1,900 to $2,300, as "review PCs", but told
recipients that they could keep the machines.

"Sending them a 30-day trial of Vista to evaluate is one thing. Sending them
a very expensive laptop preloaded with Vista is quite another," a 'Professor
Unix' commented on Slashdot.

"It would be like record labels sending journalists a free 80GB iPod and
stereo speakers with every new song they're promoting."

Some of the recipients, including blogger and technology journalist Ed Bott,
were quick to point out that the promotion is the only way for them legally
to obtain the final version of Windows Vista.

Bott admitted to having received an Acer Ferrari 5000 last Wednesday, but
said that he would return it to Microsoft after he had tested the device.

"But that is my personal decision, and it is based on my personal code of
ethics which says I do not accept gifts," he said.

Robert Scoble, a former Microsoft employee who rose to fame by spearheading
the company's blogging initiative, applauded the Vista handout but advised
bloggers to disclose whether they received a free notebook.

"Did you sell your soul and you disclosed that? Fine. Now it's up to the
readers to decide whether anything you say is worth listening to. But you
are ethical," he said.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft's public relations firm that coordinated the
programme said that the laptops were part of ongoing efforts to reach out to
bloggers.

Microsoft was "primarily interested in receiving feedback from the bloggers"
, and did not expect any editorial exposure.

"Should the [blogger] write about it, we would ask that they disclose that
the laptop came from Microsoft. Microsoft is trying to be very transparent
and open about this," she told vnunet.com.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2171708/microsoft-vista-laptop-giveaway

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Its not a giveaway, its a review unit, sent to bloggers to relay their
experiences using Vista on decent hardware. I recieved one and I am
reviewing it at the moment. We were specifically told to disclose the
source, some did not do so immediately and were unfortunately caught up in a
mess and were called bribed or bought by Microsoft. Microsoft also told us
to either give it away, return it or "keep it" (preferrably give or return).
You guess which one I am going to do.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

Microsoft has sparked a major debate in the blogosphere after the company
gave away laptops and Windows Media Desktop systems running Windows Vista
to several dozen bloggers.

Critics were quick to dismiss the handouts as a bribe. Microsoft labelled
the computers, which retail at $1,900 to $2,300, as "review PCs", but told
recipients that they could keep the machines.

"Sending them a 30-day trial of Vista to evaluate is one thing. Sending
them a very expensive laptop preloaded with Vista is quite another," a
'Professor Unix' commented on Slashdot.

"It would be like record labels sending journalists a free 80GB iPod and
stereo speakers with every new song they're promoting."

Some of the recipients, including blogger and technology journalist Ed
Bott, were quick to point out that the promotion is the only way for them
legally to obtain the final version of Windows Vista.

Bott admitted to having received an Acer Ferrari 5000 last Wednesday, but
said that he would return it to Microsoft after he had tested the device.

"But that is my personal decision, and it is based on my personal code of
ethics which says I do not accept gifts," he said.

Robert Scoble, a former Microsoft employee who rose to fame by
spearheading the company's blogging initiative, applauded the Vista
handout but advised bloggers to disclose whether they received a free
notebook.

"Did you sell your soul and you disclosed that? Fine. Now it's up to the
readers to decide whether anything you say is worth listening to. But you
are ethical," he said.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft's public relations firm that coordinated the
programme said that the laptops were part of ongoing efforts to reach out
to bloggers.

Microsoft was "primarily interested in receiving feedback from the
bloggers" , and did not expect any editorial exposure.

"Should the [blogger] write about it, we would ask that they disclose that
the laptop came from Microsoft. Microsoft is trying to be very transparent
and open about this," she told vnunet.com.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2171708/microsoft-vista-laptop-giveaway

 

[Paul Smith]

Microsoft also told us to either give it away, return it or "keep it"
(preferrably give or return). You guess which one I am going to do.

Give it to me? ;-)

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/
Get ready for Windows Vista: http://www.windowsvista.com/getready/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*

 

[Alias]

Its not a giveaway,

LOL! How much cash did you hand over for it?

Alias

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Send me a clone machine.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Is there anything such as $0?

 

[Tom Porterfield]

Microsoft also
told us to either give it away, return it or "keep it" (preferrably give
or return). You guess which one I am going to do.

Fine, I'll wait until you're done reviewing it before I expect it. ;-)

 

[Beck]

Microsoft has sparked a major debate in the blogosphere after the company
gave away laptops and Windows Media Desktop systems running Windows Vista
to several dozen bloggers.

Critics were quick to dismiss the handouts as a bribe. Microsoft labelled
the computers, which retail at $1,900 to $2,300, as "review PCs", but told
recipients that they could keep the machines.

I really do not see the problem with this. Nintendo gave away Wii's to top
websites including some blogs. You don't hear people crying "bribery" for
what they did. This situation is just another excuse for people to have a
go at MS.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

I hope you are in for a long wait.

 

[DevilsPGD]

I really do not see the problem with this. Nintendo gave away Wii's to top
websites including some blogs. You don't hear people crying "bribery" for
what they did. This situation is just another excuse for people to have a
go at MS.

You say that like it's a bad thing...

 

[Mark Gillespie]

I really do not see the problem with this. Nintendo gave away Wii's to
top websites including some blogs. You don't hear people crying
"bribery" for what they did. This situation is just another excuse for
people to have a go at MS.

Microsoft also apparently gave away Xbox360s, games and Xbox live points
to many sites and bloggers who were mud fling Sony and the PS3 for a long
time...

 

[Gary MCSE]

We all have read the stories and we all understand that this was absolutely
a Freebie, Giveaway or whatever term you wish to use.
It was designed to get the MVP suckups to say how wonderful VISTA is and to
putdown anyone that criticizes VISTA in any way shape or form.

Didn't anyone find it amusing just how supportive those MVP's are of VISTA?
Nobody can be that supportive all the time.

And to flame anyone that had any negative comments, it is disgusting.

Nobody is giving anything back, trading out or refusing to accept because it
was set up a long time ago by Microsoft to make the MVP's argue to a point
that VISTA is the greatest ever and to make us believe that there are no
bugs and that we must have VISTA ASAP.


I happen to like VISTA but I have seen and continue to see many bugs in the
system.

Maybe If I was sent an expensive toy I too would play the game.

Some argue that they should receive a copy of the OS because of the support
they gave when testing the Beta versions, but free hardware as well is just
rediculous.

Shame on you at Microsoft that felt it necessary to pay off the MVP's in
order to ensure their support on these newsgroups.

Gary MCSE

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Let me guess, you didn't get one either?

"It was designed to get the MVP suckups to say how wonderful VISTA is and to
putdown anyone that criticizes VISTA in any way shape or form."

Huh? I'm not an MVP, but I am a Windows Enthusiast and I have been covering
Vista formerly codenamed Longhorn since Dec 2004. I have said both good and
bad things about the OS, most of it attributed to the hardware. So, one
shouldn't be surprised if it gets good reviews on a Ferrari 5000, its just
expected.

Again, its not a freebie, its a "review unit", some bloggers just failed to
disclose that.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

We all have read the stories and we all understand that this was
absolutely a Freebie, Giveaway or whatever term you wish to use.
It was designed to get the MVP suckups to say how wonderful VISTA is and
to putdown anyone that criticizes VISTA in any way shape or form.

Didn't anyone find it amusing just how supportive those MVP's are of
VISTA?
Nobody can be that supportive all the time.

And to flame anyone that had any negative comments, it is disgusting.

Nobody is giving anything back, trading out or refusing to accept because
it was set up a long time ago by Microsoft to make the MVP's argue to a
point that VISTA is the greatest ever and to make us believe that there
are no bugs and that we must have VISTA ASAP.


I happen to like VISTA but I have seen and continue to see many bugs in
the system.

Maybe If I was sent an expensive toy I too would play the game.

Some argue that they should receive a copy of the OS because of the
support they gave when testing the Beta versions, but free hardware as
well is just rediculous.

Shame on you at Microsoft that felt it necessary to pay off the MVP's in
order to ensure their support on these newsgroups.

Gary MCSE

I hope you are in for a long wait.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
Microsoft also
told us to either give it away, return it or "keep it" (preferrably
give
or return). You guess which one I am going to do.

Fine, I'll wait until you're done reviewing it before I expect it. ;-)

 

[Tom Porterfield]

We all have read the stories and we all understand that this was
absolutely a Freebie, Giveaway or whatever term you wish to use.
It was designed to get the MVP suckups to say how wonderful VISTA is and
to putdown anyone that criticizes VISTA in any way shape or form.

As a point of clarification, the laptops were not sent to MVP's, they were
sent to influential bloggers. Some MVP's fall in that category and did
receive one of these machines, most however do not fall in that category and
did not get one of these machines.

Didn't anyone find it amusing just how supportive those MVP's are of
VISTA? Nobody can be that supportive all the time.

I can't speak for all (I try to avoid steriotyping) but I have seen and know
a number of MVP's who look very critically at everything MS does, including
Vista.

And to flame anyone that had any negative comments, it is disgusting.

Nobody is giving anything back, trading out or refusing to accept because
it was set up a long time ago by Microsoft to make the MVP's argue to a
point that VISTA is the greatest ever and to make us believe that there
are no bugs and that we must have VISTA ASAP.

There may be some MVP's doing this, I haven't noticed it of most of the ones
I hang with, but I guess you have.

I happen to like VISTA but I have seen and continue to see many bugs in
the system.

Agreed. I run it as my primary OS at home. There are many features I like,
and some things that never got fixed that annoy me.

Maybe If I was sent an expensive toy I too would play the game.

Some argue that they should receive a copy of the OS because of the
support they gave when testing the Beta versions, but free hardware as
well is just rediculous.

Shame on you at Microsoft that felt it necessary to pay off the MVP's in
order to ensure their support on these newsgroups.

MS has never paid off MVP's for support. In fact, every time I have spoken
with MS on this they have made it clear that they appreciate the
independence MVP's have. The MVP's I know certainly would never do anything
to simply blindly support MS or any of their products. In fact, some MVP's
I know are some of the most critical people of MS that you will find. They
are here not to support MS, but rather to help folks who use MS products.

But you started your entire message on the incorrect assumption that the
PC's were sent to MVP's to get them to support MS and Vista. The PC's were
sent to influential bloggers to get them to evaluate Vista.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

UPS label is on the way, Andre. Me friend!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Naw, seen one clone you seen 'em all.

 

[Beck]

Microsoft also apparently gave away Xbox360s, games and Xbox live points
to many sites and bloggers who were mud fling Sony and the PS3 for a long
time...

Well that is understandable. Sony need a bit of mud slinging to bring them
down a notch or two after their recent
behaviour/comments/arrogance/etcetera. ;-)

 

[caver1]

We all have read the stories and we all understand that this was
absolutely a Freebie, Giveaway or whatever term you wish to use.
It was designed to get the MVP suckups to say how wonderful VISTA is and
to putdown anyone that criticizes VISTA in any way shape or form.

Didn't anyone find it amusing just how supportive those MVP's are of VISTA?
Nobody can be that supportive all the time.

And to flame anyone that had any negative comments, it is disgusting.

Nobody is giving anything back, trading out or refusing to accept
because it was set up a long time ago by Microsoft to make the MVP's
argue to a point that VISTA is the greatest ever and to make us believe
that there are no bugs and that we must have VISTA ASAP.


I happen to like VISTA but I have seen and continue to see many bugs in
the system.

Maybe If I was sent an expensive toy I too would play the game.

Some argue that they should receive a copy of the OS because of the
support they gave when testing the Beta versions, but free hardware as
well is just rediculous.

Shame on you at Microsoft that felt it necessary to pay off the MVP's in
order to ensure their support on these newsgroups.

Gary MCSE

You mean all I have to do is agree with everything MS and i will get
everything free? Where do I sign up?

 

[Peter M]

Microsoft has sparked a major debate in the blogosphere after the company
gave away laptops and Windows Media Desktop systems running Windows Vista
to several dozen bloggers.

Blah blah blah, what's the difference between this and hardware reviewers
that get sent everything from whole systems to parts and get to keep them..
nothing. It's called "marketing" boys and girls, send x amount of units and
you'll get y amount of favourable responses. For sure "free" will garner a
better response than none free but nontheless, it's been the way of world of
advertising for donkey's years.

 

[DCR]

| Blah blah blah, what's the difference between this and hardware reviewers
| that get sent everything from whole systems to parts and get to keep them..
| nothing. It's called "marketing" boys and girls, send x amount of units and
| you'll get y amount of favourable responses. For sure "free" will garner a
| better response than none free but nontheless, it's been the way of world of
| advertising for donkey's years.

I agree, totally. And anyway, I have trust in the integrity of those that received
the "gifts". If they can so easily be bought, then it should be evident in their
reviews of other things and readers have the smarts to ignore them.