11.05.08
Praise Microsoft, Receive Bribe
So, this is why Vista 7 [sic] is covered positively…
A few days ago we showed how Microsoft had essentially kicked out journalists that it does not like. A couple of days later we also came to realise that those who were ‘obedient’ received a 2,000-dollar gift. it’s a bribe by several people’s definition.
Needless to say, not everyone is happy and this new letter tells the rest.
Dear Microsoft: I’m writing in regard to your recent FREE LAPTOP COMPUTER giveaway program for members of the industry media/analyst community. It is my understanding that authors and pundits who are “friends” of Microsoft -– i.e. those who praise Windows Vista and generally write positive stories about your products and strategies –- were eligible to receive their FREE LAPTOP COMPUTER during the super-secret, invite-only workshop that you held on the Sunday just prior to your Professional Developers Conference.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Microsoft's control of the media. █
xISO_ZWT said,
November 5, 2008 at 9:43 pm
A public listing of these ANALysts would be informative, especially when we can use it a a time saving tool to ignore reading any of thier blogs and concentrate on others.
Needs Sunlight said,
November 6, 2008 at 7:48 am
The list of those invited and a list of those that showed up would be useful.
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 6, 2008 at 7:52 am
As RK said, it was quite secretive, so good luck getting a list.
Unsurprisingly, Guerrilla marketing fan Joe Wilcox is actually defending the move.
Microsoft Gives Bloggers Laptops, Again
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/windows_7/microsoft_gives_bloggers_laptops_again.html
xISO_ZWT said,
November 7, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Been to Joe’s site, GoblinRFD clued me to that one. He seems to get a lot of folks stirred up frequently, maybe he does it on purpose for web hits (intentional flamebaiting).
The list would be useful to know who to blacklist as “Who not to give credence to…” when it comes to honest, unbiased writes. This way, you would also know, where to get instant fiction or a good laugh from clown analysts.
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 7, 2008 at 1:01 pm
GoblinRFD showed up in IRC about a week ago and he mentioned Microsoft-Watch commenters whom he suspects are Munchkins. I didn’t realise he stirred things up there.
About 2 hours ago (also in IRC) some of us discussed the need to find a list of those who received gifts. I’m preparing a post about it.