11.09.08
GeekPi/Steve Allwine: Bribed by Microsoft
THIS is part of a series of posts. For context, have a look at previous parts of this sage, such as:
- Wanted: List of Bloggers, Journalists, and Analysts Whom Microsoft Bribed at PDC 2008
- Microsoft Polices Coverage of Vista 7 by ‘Kicking Out’ Disobedient Journalist
- Microsoft is Bribing Bloggers Again… for Vista 7 Raves
- Praise Microsoft, Receive Bribe
- Harry McCracken, Technologizer: Bribed by Microsoft
- Tim Anderson Received Bribe for Vista 7 Review
- Jason Brooks (eWeek): Bribed by Microsoft
- Laptop Magazine: Bribed by Microsoft
- Ed Bott: Bought by Microsoft
What’s new then? Yes, you’ve guessed it, there’s another one. It is almost self explanatory and there are more important examples which would take a long time to explore and touch on, so let’s make this quick.
Here’s a look at the hardware that Microsoft is using to demonstrate their lastest pre-beta version of Windows 7. Journalist reviewers are loaned 1 of two models of laptop, the hard hitting, but feather weight Dell 1330 and a lenovo laptop with an SSD hard-drive (I don’t recall the model). That’s all I can say about the lenovo, since I wasn’t assigned that machine. My reviews will be based on the Dell.
More here.
I’m attending a good number of the conferences at PDC, and as part of the media, was loaned a laptop with a certain operating system to take back to the geek-lair. Check back at 9 am PST to find out some surprising new facts about the new Windows 7. I’m pretty excited about it and I think you should too.
Oh, and just a note, other than this loaner laptop, I receive zero compensation from Microsoft (or from any other entity), my regular job is covering my travel expenses to the conference, and I receive no advertising dollars from this website. I do this just for the heck of it, and I really think the GeekPI coverage is going to put the rest of those ‘tech’ blogs to shame.
Translation: I got a $2000 worth of schwag from a company that does not even manufacture it. But that’s all, I promise! No more than $2000!!
The only comment there says: “Thanks for this blog. I look forward to your “independent” coverage.”
Paul Thurrott wannabes? He too has been shilling for whatever is Windows related. Gosh, Microsoft is really destroying trust in the blogosphere. █
“I’ve been thinking long and hard about this, and the only conclusion I can come to is that this is ethically indistinguishable from bribery. Even if no quid-pro-quo is formally required, the gift creates a social obligation of reciprocity. This is best explained in Cialdini’s book Influence (a summary is here). The blogger will feel some obligation to return the favor to Microsoft.”
Bob said,
December 11, 2008 at 7:56 pm
What a shame that you are so blind to how this works. Beside the fact that it is not his equipment, he disclosed it, up-front. He didn’t hide it, he didn’t disguise it. Your contempt for MS should not be contempt for people.
G. Michaels said,
December 11, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Roy is not interested in facts, just in inflating the negative images he promotes. Without those, many of his so-called arguments simply evaporate.
These allegations are libel, as is much of what he posts here. Which is funny for someone who spends all his time trying to convince people that he has repeatedly been a target of that type of attack (and uses that to foment sympathy).
But true to style, he’s already using this “evidence” to support other arguments, thus perpetuating the vicious cycle he seems to be permanently stuck on.
Note: writer of this comment adds absolutely nothing but stalking and personal attacks against readers, as documented here.