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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."

3 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. top of the line? by spotter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since when is an "Acer Ferari" laptop a top of the line laptop. There are really only 2 types of top of the line laptops. One is an Apple MacBook Pro and its understandable why Microsoft wouldn't give that out. The other is the Thinkpad. No other PC laptop comes close to the thinkpad. Though its too bad they don't make a 15" 1600x1200 model anymore.

  2. Disclosure by truthsearch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't see this as too big a deal. What's far worse is bloggers who don't disclose the fact they got the gift in any related blog posts. Bloggers aren't expected to have any standards, but those that disclose this important information when blogging about Vista gain credibility.

    --
    Developers: We can use your help.
  3. Re:How is this bribing? by Professor_UNIX · · Score: 4, Insightful
    No different from record labels sending promos to music journalists, or game companies sending software to reviewers. How is this "bribing?"
    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. It'd be like record labels sending journalists a free 80 gig iPod and stereo speakers with every new song they're promoting.