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Are Review Units Better Than Store Versions?

Posted by timothy on from the dark-and-suspicious dept.

Anonymous Howard writes "Every now and then you hear about hardware manufacturers optimizing their hardware for certain tests or games to make their hardware look superior. I was surprised to hear of a new controversy brewing over reviewer units sent to hardware reviewers. This article claims that Samsung is sending LCD monitors with a contrast ratio of 700:1 when the consumer version of the same monitor has a contrast ratio of 450:1. Various sites list different specs for the same model, so it's somewhat confusing to know for sure which is correct. I don't doubt this happens, but I'm surprised that it would be this blatant. Has anyone heard of other stories of manufacturers being deceptive so that they could get better reviews?"

18 of 407 comments (clear)

  1. Well by RedWolves2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Review units are free and Store units are...well...not free. That would sway my opinion.

    1. Re:Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Damn. My boss posts on /.

  2. Yeah, in my review version of the Ep IV DVD by Hairy_Potter · · Score: 5, Funny

    Han shoots first. I think it's different in the retail version.

    1. Re:Yeah, in my review version of the Ep IV DVD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      >>I have a version where Guido, a professional bounty hunter

      Guido? :-)

      Guido the Bounty Hunter: Senor Solo, Jabba wants heez money, por favor.

      Han: Jabba can have his money after you finish mowing my lawn.

  3. FARK : OBVIOUS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I heard Mandrake only sent copies of 9.2 to reviewers who didn't have LG CDROMS.

  4. Ah, the Sad Effect of Technology by slagdogg · · Score: 2, Funny

    What ever happened to the ancient art of bribing the reviewer?

    --
    (Score:-1, Wrong)
    1. Re:Ah, the Sad Effect of Technology by radd0 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I believe that's referred to as "advertising" in said publication.

      -r

  5. Yes! by TheLevelHeadedOne · · Score: 2, Funny

    Has anyone heard of other stories of manufacturers being deceptive so that they could get better reviews?

    Yes. Thank you for asking.

    --

    Twin or more? ITA
    Apache/Spring/La
  6. Scandalous! by Daniel+Rutter · · Score: 5, Funny
    I am shocked, horrified, and revolted beyond human comprehension.

    But only by the fact that Samsung have never sent me any such thing.

    Dammit, I got into this business for the corruption. But do I get over-spec high-dollar hardware, automobiles or prostitutes? No, I do not. It's a bloody swindle, I tell you.

    Look, Samsung. 20 inch diagonal, 1600 by 1200, 700:1 contrast ratio, 16ms response time. Is that too much to ask?

    Delivery address provided on application. Favourable review guaranteed.

    1. Re:Scandalous! by Wumpus · · Score: 4, Funny

      But do I get over-spec high-dollar hardware, automobiles or prostitutes

      I'd really like to know what's an over-spec prostitute. I think I can figure out what's a high-dollar one.

    2. Re:Scandalous! by Lazlo+Nibble · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd really like to know what's an over-spec prostitute.

      Well, you know how sometimes you'll get one with a little extra equipment "down there" . . .

    3. Re:Scandalous! by Wumpus · · Score: 3, Funny

      See, this is why we should all use Lisp:

      (but (question-do I (get (or (is hardware (and over-spec high-dollar)) automobiles prostitutes))))

      See how clear everything is now?

  7. Re:If it looks like a duck... by cgranade · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gezunteit.

    --

    #define DRM chmod 000

  8. No? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    BZZZT! Sorry, YOU FAIL IT!

    The canonical slashdot response to such a query is properly phrased, in its entirity as:

    "No."

    Your inclusion of thirty seven extraneous characters, an 1850% overrun, has led the slashdot troll judging staff to come to tne unescapable conclusion that YOU FAIL IT!

  9. Damn lie! by gunix · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't you remember the Win98 demo by Bill Gates, when it crashed? ;-) They didn't use any speciall things then! Oh.. sorry, they used their best OS at that time...

    --
    Evolution of Language Through The Ages: 6000 BC : ungh, grrf, booga 2000 AD : grep, awk, sed
  10. Chances of Samsung Admitting to this Practice: by bcolflesh · · Score: 1, Funny

    700:1

  11. Windows XP... by ErnstKompressor · · Score: 2, Funny

    I recieved a review copy of XP, but when I opened the fedex package, there was an unopened Mac OS X box with a piece of masking tape next to the "X" with "P" written on it with black sharpie pen...

    Needless to say, I now love Windows :)

    --
    We apologise for the fault in this post. Those responsible have been sacked. -- Signed RICHARD M. NIXON
  12. Re:Nawwww by tomhudson · · Score: 1, Funny
    You wrote:
    Screeners are not for reviewers.
    So I shouldn't feel to bad looking at them, since I'm not a reviewer :-)