<img src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/"review" over the holiday as a way to astroturf the magic of Vista to the world at large. Now, however, they're saying that these were "review laptops" and that they want all of them back. Neener neener neener.
Apparently — and I suppose we could check but who really cares? — Microsoft thought the "review process" would be a good way to seed some good will about Vista and they didn't really expect them back. Microsoft did a similar deal with the Zune, "giving" one away and asking for one back and they, by no stretch of the imagination, are the first or last company to give out tech to undeserving hacks. They just forgot that bloggers are usually whiny punks.
The actual recommendation made by MS and AMD, partners in this outrage, went something like:
“Full disclosure – while I hope you will blog about your experience with the pc, you don’t have to. Also, you are welcome to send the machine back to us after you are done playing with it, or you can give it away on your site, or you can keep it. My recommendation is that you give it away on your site.”
Fair enough. The real problem here is that there are hundreds — even thousands — of BLOLGGGERS who feel they they, too, should receive free laptops. Back when it was just PC World and PC Mag fighting over red hot back-up software at PC Expo, the PR world was a simpler place. Now, when Marshall gets a laptop, JoesHardwareGearSiteAndAmazonSplogBlog.org wants one as well and will get all pissy and ethical when they don’t get the access they so richly deserve. That said, we at CrunchGear are not common whores and would never accept such a horrid and blatant bribe. Plus, they didn’t send us one, just Mike.
Microsoft hands out Ferrari’s to bloggers [iStartedSomething]
Now Micrsoft Wants Its Laptops Back [MarshallK]
The Microsoft “Scandal” [CrunchNotes]