I think the Microsoft Vista giveaway is an awesome idea

December 27, 2006 By

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.

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James Segal

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.
James Segal

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.
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pushpendra

It seems really a jock in this world of technology+economy…so ejoy the time
pushpendra

It seems really a jock in this world of technology+economy…so ejoy the time
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Vernal Pulliam

I need a free loptop for me
Vernal Pulliam

I need a free loptop for me
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amber

how much is it to get a laptop notebook
http://laptops amber

how much is it to get a laptop notebook
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http://www.diagnosestellung.de/ Krank

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.
http://www.diagnosestellung.de Krank

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.
http://www.active2go.de/ joern puetz

If Google did the same thing they’d be lauded as the greatest geniuses who have graced this universe.

joern
http://www.active2go.de joern puetz

If Google did the same thing they’d be lauded as the greatest geniuses who have graced this universe.

joern
http://www.hustentee.de/ stormi

Vista sucks!
I`m still using the old XP.
http://www.hustentee.de stormi

Vista sucks!
I`m still using the old XP.
http://www.netvodo.de/ Bernd Schulz

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.
http://www.netvodo.de Bernd Schulz

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.
http://www.ericstorm.de/ Eric

for some tests a laptop?
http://www.ericstorm.de Eric

for some tests a laptop?
http://blog.active2go.de/ Joe

where can I get one laptop?

Joe
http://blog.active2go.de Joe

where can I get one laptop?

Joe
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http://www.ekwh.de/ Frank

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.
http://www.ekwh.de Frank

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.
http://www.badboyzshop.de/shop/ Hip Hop Klamotten

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
http://www.badboyzshop.de/shop/ Hip Hop Klamotten

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
Vermillion254

I WANT FREE STUFF !!!!! I”LL TYPE TILL I CAN”T TYPE NO MORE !!!!!!!
Vermillion254

I WANT FREE STUFF !!!!! I”LL TYPE TILL I CAN”T TYPE NO MORE !!!!!!!
Vermillion254

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE STUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!
Vermillion254

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE STUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!
Vermillion254

Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME IGMME !!!!!!!!!! BLAH BLA BLAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GIMME!!!!!!!!

please
Vermillion254

Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME IGMME !!!!!!!!!! BLAH BLA BLAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GIMME!!!!!!!!

please
Olajide Olusegun .T

Please i need one free laptop to enable me furnish my programming skills
Olajide Olusegun .T

Please i need one free laptop to enable me furnish my programming skills
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I think the Microsoft Vista giveaway is an awesome idea

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