01.31.08
Microsoft is Once Again Caught Bribing Disgruntled Journalists
Just another new example for a pile of other existing examples where Microsoft bribes bloggers and journalists with incentives and gifts. There’s astroturfing too, but that’s just part of the broader strategy (guerrilla marketing).
Here. Read this new article.
To be honest, MS did try to engage me after I wrote that, but the sad thing is it was through bribery. I don’t use that word lightly, but there is nothing else I can call it. I think I explained my differences of opinion quite clearly in that article, and the response I got from MS was as follows, names removed to protect the sender.
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Hi Charlie,
I’m really sorry to hear of your bad impression of Windows Vista, I would be very interested in having a chat with you to dispell some of your worries, and to provide you with your first contact at Microsoft!
I’ve got a copy of Windows Vista here for you as well if you want to have a go with the real deal RTM build!
(signature)
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Please note that in the original complaint, I never once asked for a copy of the software, I had several versions here, and my complaints were about activation, DRM and other problems. A copy with all those problems is still as unacceptable as the ones I owned. In the following half dozen emails, my concerns were not placated, if anything they were confirmed.
In the recent past, The Inquirer was invited over to Microsoft for a visit. Why? Because it’s a “Microsoft doubter”, as Microsoft itself calls it. The site also revealed how Microsoft DDOSed journalists through its public relations channels when Windows Vista was released. Shades of the “second coming”, also known as Windows 95 (mind the Linux Journal article).
Only yesterday we gave an example of another case where a journalist got used by Microsoft. This article (the original) was written by someone who accepted a free trip from Microsoft and had a week’s sessions of brainwash in Redmond. He later proceeded to attacking IBM.
So, who else is Microsoft ‘compensating’ with free gifts but without the journalists spilling the beans as in the case above? It surely makes you wonder. Rick Jelliffe publicly admitted that Microsoft offered him money to edit Wikipedia (which he did), but how many other people has Microsoft paid to edit Wikipedia in its favour (without disclosure)? What about all those OOXML briberies?█
Anonymous said,
January 31, 2008 at 8:56 am
Dear Friends:
I was curious if you would consider making every post to your wonderful site into individual PDF files available for download. Your site is a wonderful resource, I would like to see it archived in a nice fashion so we can spread each post in various forms including posters and booklets printed out, as well as on CDROM for free and for ourselves to enjoy in years to come.
Thanks!
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 31, 2008 at 9:40 am
I’m not aware if you’re sarcastic (logged in as billgatesdonkey@microsoft.com), but if you’re interested I can do this trivially. I’ve had this working on my personal blog for years: http://schestowitz.com/Weblog/
Mind the PDF link that accompanies each post. Perhaps I’ll reuse some code and bring it over here (if it’s compatible with the same codebase).
Anonymous said,
January 31, 2008 at 11:56 am
A wonderful feature! You should make an archives download area on this website with former articles please. Your website is a historical wonder beyond compare, except perhaps groklaw.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 31, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I’ll do that soon if you are interested.
PJ is incredibly brilliant, so that’s a nice compliment, thank you. Comparison to her status is a case of filling big shoes. Long before this site existed I helped PJ behind the scenes (I still do), so this has been inspirational. We cover some different topics here. She can’t handle everything.