Comments on: Microsoft Under Fire Over Laptop Giveaways to Bloggers

By: wess stewart

wess stewart — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:48:10 +0000

There’s an easy solution to this that should make everyone happy.

“I gave it to my friend. He’s a linux nerd. He gave it back. We’re square.”

See? Easy.

By: Ethics of Blogging at Bee Hive

Ethics of Blogging at Bee Hive — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 08:44:48 +0000

[...] This isn’t the first I have heard of Microsoft promoting Vista, Darren at Problogger is one of the lucky few that was given the opportunity to try out the new operating system. And while the columnist was right when he refers to Microsoft giving the option of choosing what the blogger wanted to do with the laptop, a follow up e-mail that Problogger posted on his site from Microsoft says: [...]

By: ReviewMe, PayPerPost, and Microsoft

ReviewMe, PayPerPost, and Microsoft — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:32:55 +0000

[...] There’s been alot of noise about bloggers selling out recently. The increasing popularity of ReviewMe and PayPerPost, along with Microsoft offering free Vista-powered laptops to prominent bloggers has got the “blogosphere” in an uproar about what the “blogosphere” is supposed to be. [...]

By: Odin

Odin — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 06:00:49 +0000

If the offer is given to me, I’d take the PC and give away my old one. While I do prefer Linux, I might decide to keep the OS as a matter of thanks for the free PC (specially if I do like Vista and if it gives a bit less headache than I expect it to).

And this is a major reason why I expect bugs ===>”Martin Neumann Says:
December 29th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Hey Hart – 2G of memory for Vista !!! That can’t be right – most are still on 512 and just moving to 1G. An OS requiring 2G of memory sounds like major OSbloatware to me. ;-)”

By: frankarr - an aussie microsoft blogger

frankarr - an aussie microsoft blogger — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 03:11:56 +0000

AFR : Blogger takes free laptop in his stride…

Josh’s (or should I say Joshua’s) article is in the AFR today. Moira went out to buy the paper, to put…

By: Laptopgate - Edelmann und Microsoft machen unseriöse Angebote @ Frank Ristau

Laptopgate - Edelmann und Microsoft machen unseriöse Angebote @ Frank Ristau — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:14:26 +0000

[...] Na da gibt es doch zum Jahreswechsel nochmal einen kleinen Skandal: Microsoft verteilt Ferrari-Acer Laptops mit installiertem Windoofs Vista an Blogger mit der Bitte, diese zu reviewen. Will sich Microsoft damit neue Freunde kaufen? Das vermeintliche Laptopgate verursacht jedenfalls einigen Wind in der Blogsphäre. Natürlich ist auch diesmal wieder der Lieblingsfeind Nummer 1, die PR-Agentur Edelmann beteiligt. Und natürlich bringt das Don Alphonso auch diesmal wieder zur Weißglut, der einen möglichen Dialog zwischen Edelmann und einer MS-Birne nachstellt. Frank Ristau am 31. Dezember 2006 [...]

By: Rob Ragusa

Rob Ragusa — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:48:20 +0000

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Vista in action!

I must say, the finally decided to update their graphics to look a lot more Mac-ish. You would think all those years the programmers were doing the design and now have handed it over to the designers!

The system itself (functionality) is quite robust and has a lot of new features since XP. The search functions and file directory browsing is a lot faster and intuitive.

You’ll also notice a lot of cool transparency on windows happening!

What most people don’t know is that Vista is hardware specific. In order to enjoy all the cool functionality and design of Vista, you need to have a heavily ramped up piece of machine! Hence, why they are shipping you a Ferrari PC that is loaded with the best of the best – after all, it is a Ferrari!

By: What’s so wrong with Microsoft’s Acer Ferrari gift? » @ YugaTech! [ philippine technology news and reviews ]

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 12:14:53 +0000

[...] A lot of people are screaming bloody murder with that Acer Ferrari laptop loaded with Vista which Microsoft sent as gifts to top bloggers. What is so wrong about that? [...]

By: Muslim Unity

Muslim Unity — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 08:02:30 +0000

Hi fellow brothers, sisters and Darren.

Even though I my blog topic and interest is not directly what is being spoken here, I found this blog useful to help people like me promote my blog. I have been trying to use some of the advice given here, and I am sure it will work with time. I lost my job because of my blog, and I was happy to find this blog- as i hope to use the techniques discussed here to help myself.

About the new VISTA, I am sure it will have a couple of bugs and problems, as any new Windows does. It is safer to use the XP, once the Vista is out. Most viruses are not made for the older software. As a windows user I will stick to XP till Vista is not proven.

I will love to learn more from the community of pro-bloggers here, so that I can further spread my message of peace and understanding.

By: HART (1-800-HART)

HART (1-800-HART) — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 05:11:09 +0000

Martin (#37) … Check out specs from Andru (#43)’s link :) ….

2 GB DDR-800 RAM

By: Laughing Squid » Microsoft Sent A Free Laptop With Windows Vista

Laughing Squid » Microsoft Sent A Free Laptop With Windows Vista — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 01:45:28 +0000

[...] A different approach was used with Darren Rowse of Pro Blogger, he was asked in advance if he wanted a “review machine”. I think that would have been the best approach by Microsoft for all the bloggers involved, not just Darren. [...]

By: Elise Bauer

Elise Bauer — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 00:05:46 +0000

What a tempest in a teapot. Seriously people. Of all the ethical dilemmas in the world to consider, this one isn’t even on the list. In the book business publishers send thousands of books out to people in hopes of getting a few reviews. How is this different? Just because it’s Microsoft? and the PC is worth a few thousand? Even better that MS is sending some of these to Mac users. Believe me, as a loyal Mac user myself, if you could get me to find one nice thing to say about a PC, it must be a damn good machine. If MS is backpedaling on the “keep it” offer so that they don’t appear to be violating any so-called blogger ethics, that’s too bad. I wouldn’t expect MS to cave on something so stupid.

By: Dustin

Dustin — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:08:50 +0000

I don’t think I can trust a product from a company that has no idea how much it spent to build it. I am moving to Mac next time I need a computer.

By: John Hood

John Hood — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:33:54 +0000

Hm, I’d be more than happy to review Vista against Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger with full disclosure to my readership!

By: Andru Edwards

Andru Edwards — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:06:49 +0000

We also have received a fully loaded Media Center PC from Microsoft as part of this campaign. People need to stop complaining - in reality, it really seems that those complaining are those who weren't chosen. It is COMMON PRACTICE from companies to get their products into the hands of those who review said products, prior to a launch. How else are you supposed to review them before they are available to the general public? This isn't just for the tech industry - Ebert and Roeper see movies - for free - before they are available to the public. Any problem there? Probably not. Plus this is a part of something bigger that Microsoft is doing - the Vanishing Point game, where Loki is the one "planning" these giveaways.

By: Mike’s Lookout » Blog Archive » Vista Retraction

Mike’s Lookout » Blog Archive » Vista Retraction — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:12:41 +0000

[...] Now, to all you Microsofties out there that read this blog, I hear that when you give an honest Vista review like this one, Microsoft sends bloggers like me a new laptop to evaluate Vista and help us better understand the true value of Vista. I could be swayed. But for now, unless Microsoft can help me understand again why I might someday want to install that hopeless piece of garbage, I have to retract my previous “looking forward” statements, and I no longer recommend Vista to my vast subscribership. [...]

By: Glen L Johnson

Glen L Johnson — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:05:23 +0000

I’m with you that anything that Microsoft is giving away has a catch and they should have been more clear upfront instead of backtracking

By: Patrick Grote

Patrick Grote — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:45:04 +0000

DR … You should run a contest for loyal readers and award the laptop to one of them. How about picking from those who post on December 29th at 9:44 Central Time in the United States?

By: William

William — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:22:24 +0000

besides the fact that you are a mac guy… it just doesn’t fit your niche of making money with blogging (unless they are including some new blogging software in vista).

It’s like sending me a novel to review on my artist blog. I’ll review it for my niche. “Nice cover, but it needs more pictures…”

By: Eliza

Eliza — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:01:38 +0000

I never got the email but would’ve loved to have reviewed it and kept the laptop. I think their problem began with people saying that letting the reviewers keep the laptops was the bribe. I think it was a generous gift and the fact they were allowing them to keep it, send it back or hand it out was nice. I think anything that is reviewed should be kept by the reviewer as a thank you, whether or not they liked the product. Well I can’t wait to read the reviews that others will surely have out in the next month, but that laptop sure would’ve been nice.