[mdlug] Is MS bribing bloggers?

[Bruce Smith]

> > It was my understanding, from the one article I read on the subject,
> > that Microsoft sent out the laptops to bloggers without any strings
> > attached.  (correct me if I'm wrong)
> >
> > But if I'm right, why can't someone accept the laptop and still be
> > trustworthy?  If I was a blogger and I received a free laptop loaded
> > with Vista from Microsoft, I would consider the laptop as payment for
> > my review of Vista, and nothing more.  I would be happy to review it
> > and give my _honest_ opinion, along with being honest about where the
> > laptop and Vista came from.
> >
> > I'd also review things like how difficult it is to dual boot Vista
> > with Linux, which may not be appreciated by Microsoft.  I really
> > wouldn't care if Microsoft didn't like my review and never sent me
> > anything else free.
> >
> >  - BS
> >
> Because as a journalist all you have to offer is your skill and your
> credibility - *not* - honesty. Accepting gifts undercuts that
> credibility because it's difficult to believe that the gift-giver
> doesn't expect something in return or hasn't already gotten something in
> return. It may be true that you remain unbought and your honesty intact
> but that's difficult for most people to accept, extrapolating from their
> own, imagined response to such a situation, and your credibility suffers.
>
> The suspicion will be that even if your review is unflattering, it won't
> be entirely honest. Vista, according to your review, is difficult to
> dual-boot but is your review comprehensive? What information haven't you
> provided in your review that might be a whole lot more injurious to
> Microsoft's interests?
>
> Look at the bright side. Since this is a classic problem all journalists
> face it makes it more difficult to dismiss the claim to the status of
> journalist, by bloggers.

I understand that for journalists and places that do "official"
reviews of products.  i.e. That's the reasons Consumer Reports doesn't
accept any free products for review.

My problem is I don't consider bloggers to be journalists.  If I'm
blogging, I'm just writing my own opinions and I don't really care if
anyone is reading my blog or if anyone takes me serious (like my
postings on this mailing list).  :-)

If M$ wants see this post and wants to send me a laptop in the hopes
that I'll post my opinion of Vista back here, let them, I'm not giving
it back!  I'll even post my "review" here ("thoughts" is probably a
better word).  My thoughts will be honest as far as my opinion goes,
and I'll probably have good and bad things to say about Vista.  I'll
give the specs of the laptop and say where I got it so people can
choose if they want to believe my review or not.  I'll also include my
findings on what is required to dual boot Vista with Linux, so I'm
somewhat on topic and don't get flamed off this list.  (no laptop on
my front porch yet, so you probably don't need to worry)  ;-)

 - BS