Lots of people like BL Ochman are screaming bloody murder about Microsoft giving bloggers and other influentials free laptops loaded with Windows Vista. I personally don’t get it.
That is a GREAT idea. After all, how can anyone have a decent conversation about Windows Vista without having put a bunch of time on one of the machines?
Now, regarding blogger ethics. Did you disclose? If you did, you have ethics. If you didn’t, you don’t. It’s that black and white with me.
Did you sell your soul and you disclosed that? Fine. Now it’s up to the readers to decide whether anything you say is worth listening to. But you’re ethical.
Are you trying to hide that you sold your soul? That’s not ethical.
On Edelman’s side? Is sending out laptops ethical? Of course! That’s their job. Their job is to get the product and company they represent in front of as many influentials as possible.
For instance, the Edwards campaign has several journalists and bloggers in New Orleans right now. How many of them have disclosed whether they are paying their expenses or not?
The one thing I would have done differently is forced disclosure by those who get the laptops.
UPDATE: Now Microsoft is asking bloggers not to keep the laptops, according to Marshall Kirkpatrick.
Vista actually comes with a money back guarantee. I was able to send it back nd get re-imbursed (shipping too!) At least they make it easy to get a refund through the MS money back guarantee program.
Vista actually comes with a money back guarantee. I was able to send it back nd get re-imbursed (shipping too!) At least they make it easy to get a refund through the MS money back guarantee program.
[...] Scoble says “it’s an awesome idea.” He says that as long as the bloggers disclose that they [...]
[...] when being an innocent bystander is a magical thing. I got word of Edelman’s latest through Scoble and I personally think he’s right about the ethics. Still, hearing positive comments like [...]
It seems really a jock in this world of technology+economy…so ejoy the time
It seems really a jock in this world of technology+economy…so ejoy the time
How did u do this! It’s perfect! the best site i’ve ever seen.x
How did u do this! It’s perfect! the best site i’ve ever seen.x
Hello and congratulations! Very interesting & professional site!f
Hello and congratulations! Very interesting & professional site!f
How did u do this! It’s perfect! the best site i’ve ever seen.
How did u do this! It’s perfect! the best site i’ve ever seen.
[...] http://scobleizer.com/2006/12/27/i-think-the-microsoft-vista-giveaway-is-an-awesome-idea/ [...]
I need a free loptop for me
I need a free loptop for me
[...] Dec 27th, 2006 by J. Botter For all the love I have for everything Apple, I still wish Microsoft had sent me a free laptop with Vista pre-loaded. [...]
[...] This thread and the other negative ones around the net are absolutely amazing to me. I can understand where laypersons may be surprised by this if they don’t have an inside knowledge of how industry, PR, and the media work to get these products into the hands of those who have the reach to report on them. [...]
[...] This is one case where I’m on Microsoft’s side (as is Scoble.) [...]
how much is it to get a laptop notebook
how much is it to get a laptop notebook
[...] I think the Microsoft Vista giveaway is an awesome idea ? ScobleizerThe more important idea is much more subtle. Think about how you use your web browser. You probably think that you are just visiting web pages. … [...]
[...] I think the Microsoft Vista giveaway is an awesome idea ” Scobleizer Go read Scobble’s latest post on this: “I think the Microsoft Vista giveaway is an awesome idea” … In this case, I think it was a great idea. … [...]
There is not enough discussion here of the obvious spin in this campaign: If they had sent review copies of Vista sans computers, they would have run the risk of getting bitched out about the entire process of installing this crap on existing machines. So they controlled the buzz by giving people machines pre-loaded.
There is not enough discussion here of the obvious spin in this campaign: If they had sent review copies of Vista sans computers, they would have run the risk of getting bitched out about the entire process of installing this crap on existing machines. So they controlled the buzz by giving people machines pre-loaded.
If Google did the same thing they’d be lauded as the greatest geniuses who have graced this universe.
joern
If Google did the same thing they’d be lauded as the greatest geniuses who have graced this universe.
joern
Vista sucks!
I`m still using the old XP.
Vista sucks!
I`m still using the old XP.
I agree with the opinion that it`s just marketing and that if you want to talk about a product you should know about it. I was in on the beta test and rc test ( no, I didn`t get a laptop ) and so far I love it. I tell the people I do computer work for that I love it. If I had not used it I wouldn`t recommend it. Microsoft is just doing good business.
I agree with the opinion that it`s just marketing and that if you want to talk about a product you should know about it. I was in on the beta test and rc test ( no, I didn`t get a laptop ) and so far I love it. I tell the people I do computer work for that I love it. If I had not used it I wouldn`t recommend it. Microsoft is just doing good business.
for some tests a laptop?
for some tests a laptop?
where can I get one laptop?
Joe
where can I get one laptop?
Joe
[...] It was basically a post bashing another one at Robert Scoble’s blog. [...]
I couldn’t agree with you more. MS is damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Give laptops? “They are buying people.” No laptops? “They don’t understand bloggers.”
If Google did the same thing they’d be lauded as the greatest geniuses who have graced this universe.
I couldn’t agree with you more. MS is damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Give laptops? “They are buying people.” No laptops? “They don’t understand bloggers.”
If Google did the same thing they’d be lauded as the greatest geniuses who have graced this universe.
I understand Microsoft fears people will make uninformed comments on Vista. And downloading it and setting it up takes time. Being given a sexy free laptop with it on the other hand and they’ll definitely play around with it. But those they give it to loose credibility. To get the moral high ground they could have made the laptop one of those $100 for all kids on earth lap tops and collected it a few weeks later for a donation
I understand Microsoft fears people will make uninformed comments on Vista. And downloading it and setting it up takes time. Being given a sexy free laptop with it on the other hand and they’ll definitely play around with it. But those they give it to loose credibility. To get the moral high ground they could have made the laptop one of those $100 for all kids on earth lap tops and collected it a few weeks later for a donation
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please
Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME IGMME !!!!!!!!!! BLAH BLA BLAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GIMME!!!!!!!!
please
Please i need one free laptop to enable me furnish my programming skills
Please i need one free laptop to enable me furnish my programming skills
[...] tend to agree with Scoble et al– he says it’s “awesome.” I am less inclined to subscribe to the [...]
[...] the past year, there were numerous scandals involving a lack of transparency involving WalMart, Microsoft and Whole Foods [...]
[...] posts here and here have brought up the question of whether bloggers should accept products/services as gifts. In [...]