Ed, >>Really pathetic, if you ask me. If Vista offered anything compelling people >>would be flocking to it, rather than having to be bribed with a free laptop in order to try it out.<<
First I will say I have never accepted a dime for ads on my Web site, never blogged after being "bribed", and have not made up my mind if this is something right or wrong. I do know disclosure is an absolute requirement if it is in play. I have not even loaded Vista yet on a Virtual or real PC. No one sent me a free laptop for Christmas, I bought my own, Vista capable - running XP Pro. There are two other points of view on this topic: 1) Paid endorsements are not uncommon in marketing. Just watch your TV for more than 5 minutes, open any newspaper, heck - even open you yellow pages book if you still have one around. Even someone like Dan Marino is endorsing some weight loss program these days. All are getting something to push a product into your face. 2) Most technical reviews you read in any tech magazine were done with products provided by the vendor. Most reviews you read are positive (especially software reviews). Most reviews are accompanied with advertisements from the vendor in the issue their products are reviewed. The author is getting free software or hardware, typically paid to write the review, and the vendor is getting exposure. Other things to consider after I read the two links in this thread: 1) Microsoft did not declare a review had to be written, did not even ask the potential reviewer to say something nice, and did not declare they even had to accept the "bribe". 2) Microsoft takes a risk as do any company doing any marketing. To paraphrase something Whil put so eloquently once (or maybe twice): when it comes to marketing, nothing works. But we all try to do things hoping something does. Microsoft is trying out the "new media" as are a lot of companies. Blogging has an impact, but how much is not really known by a lot of larger companies. I applaud them for trying something like this. It is a bold move. I look forward to you helping me make up my mind if this is really wrong, or just another way companies can market. Or is this another opinion you are forming because you really dislike Microsoft and by default it is evil? My mind is open. Rick White Light Computing, Inc. www.whitelightcomputing.com www.rickschummer.com 586.254.2530 - office 586.254.2539 - fax _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
