Apparently — and I suppose we could check but who really cares? — Microsoft thought the "review process" would be a good way to seed some good will about Vista and they didn't really expect them back. Microsoft did a similar deal with the Zune, "giving" one away and asking for one back and they, by no stretch of the imagination, are the first or last company to give out tech to undeserving hacks. They just forgot that bloggers are usually whiny punks.
The actual recommendation made by MS and AMD, partners in this outrage, went something like:
“Full disclosure - while I hope you will blog about your experience with the pc, you don’t have to. Also, you are welcome to send the machine back to us after you are done playing with it, or you can give it away on your site, or you can keep it. My recommendation is that you give it away on your site.”
Fair enough. The real problem here is that there are hundreds — even thousands — of BLOLGGGERS who feel they they, too, should receive free laptops. Back when it was just PC World and PC Mag fighting over red hot back-up software at PC Expo, the PR world was a simpler place. Now, when Marshall gets a laptop, JoesHardwareGearSiteAndAmazonSplogBlog.org wants one as well and will get all pissy and ethical when they don’t get the access they so richly deserve. That said, we at CrunchGear are not common whores and would never accept such a horrid and blatant bribe. Plus, they didn’t send us one, just Mike.
Microsoft hands out Ferrari’s to bloggers [iStartedSomething]
Now Micrsoft Wants Its Laptops Back [MarshallK]
The Microsoft “Scandal” [CrunchNotes]
A seemingly good jester, and easy publicity tool, is going to turn into mayhem for Microsoft. Anyone who writes a blog that is somewhat tech related is going to wondering why they didn’t get one to ‘give away’ and will be complaining about it. It’s hard enough reading a story about vista only to hear that the OS is doomed because the activation was cracked a few times. Now, I have dig though all the dribble about how the respective blog writer didn’t get their laptop. :-(
I for one will accept any said laptops from companies, evil or not…. And to top it off, I am actually looking forward to moving to vista. (I’m a photography geek and saw some features in the beta that I really liked…)
@ Paul
I’ve ran RC2 and RTM for a while and it’s fantastic! I really like it and I will be purchasing it when it comes out. My only gripe is that hardware manufactures are dragging their feet on developing good drivers for vista, especially the 64bit version. Something to think about if you are going to hooking up cameras and printers to your vista set up.
“They just forgot that bloggers are usually whiny punks.”
John, too easy… :)
@ Anthony…..
Thanks for the tips, I appreciate that much. I have plans to replace my current older laptop eventually. When I do that (probably in the Spring or Summer of 2007) I’ll likely do the move to Vista.
Until then, it just wouldn’t be worth the extra cost and effort of moving over…….
Just keep the fucking Laptops, make a mirror backup on the Vista installation of the harddrive, format, install XP, be happy using the Laptop for as long as you like, and write a Blog review about how well that XP is working on the no-longer-Vista Laptop that Microsoft gave to you. That’ll teach Microsoft. Neener, Neener, Neener.
Seriously guys if you want to pass on said bribes send em my way. Dibs after Paul.
Adesso basta. Chiudi queste finestre se ti pare e non perdere più tempo e pazienza per me. Ci sono altre cose migliori da fare, questo è certo. Cara, quando parlavo di un fratello parlavo di un fratello vero, non di un grande fratello. Non verrò più nella google machine. Se hai cose da dirmi o da mostrarmi sai come fare. (a parte il fatto che per ora non sono neanche riuscito ad installare la posta elettronica personale). Grazie per i virus comunque. Buone vacanze.
Devo….any chance that you will provide “facts” on MSFT direction here?
Sorry that I have to stand in line behind Paul and bpm…maybe MSFT will send one to each host on CrunchGear so taht I won’t be left out???
All the guys that are complaining, are just being jealous. And in this point of view, are incapable of doing moral remarks.
Good gesture by M$, too bad they did not think it through before sending them out. From the various blogs I have read, seems like M$ jumped the gun as usual and missrepresented themselves again. Oh…the poor whiners.
I will stick to my 64bit Linux box and avoid all the headaches and cost