”Invitations for 'free lunch' include fancy air trips to Redmond, Washington, possibly with Kool-Aid on the menu (program).“A reader has made us aware us a very curious mailing list thread. "Someone harshly criticized Microsoft security making some very good points," he writes. "Suddenly a Microsoft rep materialized on the mailing list to refute them, offer to put on a security dog and pony show for the group and buy everyone lunch, and that's where it ended! I'm dumbfounded at how easily Microsoft manages Windows users. Like a shepherd herding sheep!"
There are prior incidents where Microsoft invited over those who have it criticised. It seems like a pattern. Invitations for 'free lunch' include fancy air trips to Redmond, Washington, possibly with Kool-Aid on the menu (program). Invited parties have already included Slashdot, LifeHacker, Linux.com, and even The Inquirer. None of them is renowned as sympathetic towards Microsoft. Au contraire in fact. Here are some relevant articles, starting with The Inquirer:
The Vole [Microsoft] supposedly invited The INQ over for tea because we are notorious "Microsoft doubters" - and we were accompanied by other supposed Vole doubters such as the folk from lifehacker and a very nice man from Slashdot, as well as some Microsoft MvPs.
Microsoft flew me there from Florida at its expense, put me up in a nice hotel, provided decent food, and comped me and four other invitees to this "special conference" with presentations about the marvels of Vista and other recent or upcoming Microsoft products. They didn't quite play the old Beatles song "Love Me Do" in the background, but it was the event's unstated theme.
Comments
Jeff Waugh
2007-12-09 08:39:49
Your behaviour is shameful, irresponsible and deceitful, and does not serve the community you purport to serve.
I've said on countless occasions now that my door is open for you to do primary research. Even though it is a despicable outrage for you to make these insinuations about Pia, I will even extend that offer to issues relating to my wife and business.
Now, here is my phone number again. Will you have the guts and responsibility to actually ask questions and do primary research for once, particularly about issues such as this? +61 2 9318 0284.
It is absolutely shameful that you would make such deceitful insinuations and accusations without any evidence whatsover.
eet
2007-12-09 09:58:09
Right, Roy?
Note: comment has been flagged for arriving from an incarnation of a known (eet), pseudonymous, forever-nymshifting, abusive Internet troll that posts from open proxies and relays around the world.