TECHRIGHTS spent a considerable amount of time showing what the likes of Gartner are really all about. Those firms sell recommendations, just like some financial firms which do exactly that. Those who are unwilling rate the bond the way the prospective client wishes will simply lose the business, which a corruptible firm will then get instead (Moody's for instance) and thrive as a reward for this gross misconduct. Here is a timely reminder of Gartner's incompetence:

The upshot: Gartner completely misread the netbook market and failed to spot a disruptive technology — tablets — that would reshape the market.