Give us a name, we'll gift you with a patent

WE already know for a fact that Microsoft gave laptops to people who covered Vista 7, among other products which were initially introduced at PDC [1, 2, 3]. It is even confirmed in Microsoft blogs now. Despite this, all of those privileged Microsoft-friendly incognitos are keeping quiet about their $2000 gift. There is no blog that comes to sight with an admission of receiving this gift. Judging by last year's experience, doing this leads to erosion of readers' trust and possibly the loss (return) of the gift.

If any of the readers can help us identify bloggers, journalists and analysts whom Microsoft brought to that secret meeting (yes, Kennedy insists it was secret), please shout out so that we can compile a list. It's a bribe. Even a former Microsoft manager calls it a "bribe".

It is also known by now that attendants of PDC 2008 received some free hardware from Microsoft. Here is photographic evidence.

Microsoft delivers the goods at PDC 2008

[...]

Attendees to PDC 2008 received pre-beta copies of Windows 7 on DVD, as well as a 160GB Western Digital portable hard drive packed with code.

If we fail to compile a list laptop recipients, then everyone is a suspect. Then again, it has always been that way. The Internet, therefore, will continue to tell lies. Television and paper publications likewise. ⬆

"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."

--Former Microsoft manager