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Microsoft Bribing Bloggers With Laptops

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the hey-where's-mine dept.

Slinky writes "According to at least six bloggers, Microsoft has been sending out free top-of-the-line laptops pre-loaded with Vista as a 'no strings attached gifts'. This 'reward' for their hard work on covering tech in general is coincidentally right before the launch of Vista to consumers. To be clear, these weren't loans, they were gifts, and they were top-of-the-line Acer Ferrari laptops. Microsoft blogger Long Zheng broke the silence over the source of the freebies."

6 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. I'd just like to tell Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That I'm a whore and can be bought. Please send my free laptop to:

    Anonymous Coward
    555 Mockingbird Lane
    Anywhere, KS 51248

    I look forward to "reviewing" Vista for you.

  2. despicable by wes33 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is typical MS behaviour - entirely immoral and calculating ... and where do I sign up?

  3. Who cares? by MECC · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is it ethical? Probably not.

    A new laptop to run Ubuntu on? Who cares?

    --
    "We are all geniuses when we dream"
    - E.M. Cioran
  4. good for them by otacon · · Score: 5, Funny

    sure beats the Pentium 133 16mb ram 1.0gb HDD laptop running debian with no X the FSF sent me.

    --
    In a world of acronyms, the words are the real victims.
  5. I'm still waiting by NetDanzr · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm still waiting for my free samples for reviewing porn movies. Shame on you, porn industry: Microsoft has overtaken you in innovation for the first time.

  6. Re:How is this bribing? by ronanbear · · Score: 4, Funny

    Journalists have another boss and they are supposed to have professional standards. Bloggers are more easily bought.

    If Microsoft didn't engage in astroturfing and sent out Microsoft products then people wouldn't blink. Instead bloggers are being put into ethical conflict just as much as if they took a cheque from Microsoft.

    --
    the more they over-think the plumbing the easier it is to stop up the pipe