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Pogue and the Bogusness of Advanced Gadget Reviews

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-don't-think-bogusness-is-a-word dept.

Jordan Golson writes "New York Times gadget reviewer David Pogue got into an email back-and-forth with Valleywag after he was tricked into writing an article by advance misinformation on a pre-launch product. In theory, it's good for reviewers to test and write up products before release day, so consumers can make informed choices. In practice, Pogue and we wish the industry standard would change." Personally I think this is why blogs are great- if a product sells 100,000 units, it only takes a few dozen bloggers to encounter problems for the truth to come out. Of course, that doesn't help you if you want to pre-order.

4 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Ouch. by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Isn't the best solution to not write about it until it can at least be tested? Why does Pogue, or for that matter, any reviewer, have to beat the release date so badly on such an obscure product? So nobody knows about a product when it's actually released, that's not such a bad thing for everyone, except maybe for the company in question if they have predatory intent.

    I think it's important to wait and not rush. I'm happy to let the early adopters try stuff out first for a few months.

    1. Re:Ouch. by dgatwood · · Score: 4, Interesting

      No, Pogue and his publication should sue the company for fraud. That would stop crap like this.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  2. It's about the sales by Gazzonyx · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It would be ideal for them to wait, but that won't sell any magazines if their competitors are covering tech. before it comes out. Especially tech. heavy magazines expected to be on the bleeding edge.

    --

    If I mod you up, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with what you've said, sorry.

  3. Ridiculous by Procasinator · · Score: 5, Interesting

    He asked a company for it's pricing and he was supplied with the wrong pricing. For what reason would the prices be wrong? A complete non-story, Pogue did nothing wrong. Releasing prices to the general public is a good thing, not something that should be discouraged. People want to know the price of products like PS3, iPhone and charges of using features of it before they are released, even if only a guideline.