*** I’ve decided to auction off the laptop on eBay and donate the proceeds to EFF. ***
Ok, so yeah, I’ve been blogging about Microsoft quite a bit lately. I guess their marketing people are doing their job well, since the launch of Windows Vista is next month. Speaking of which, on December 20th I received an email from Edelman, the PR firm that is handling the launch of Windows Vista, letting me know that Microsoft is sending me a “present” in the form of a laptop with Windows Vista installed on it, “no strings attached”.
I’m not sure how I was selected to be one of the people receiving this (I’m assuming there are others, but I haven’t come across any yet). It could be that they are reaching out to bloggers who are Mac users (I switched to a Mac back when OS X came out) or it might just be that people I know who work for Microsoft or other influential bloggers who recommended me.
So, today the laptop arrived (here are some photos) and it wasn’t just some generic laptop, but a really cool, supercompact Acer Ferrari 1000 12.1” notebook, with an 1.80GHz AMD Turion 64×2 with 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a SATA 160GB hard drive. I assumed that they would send a fairly decent machine, since they wouldn’t want cheap hardware to make their OS look bad, but this was a nice surprise. Also, they just didn’t install the basic Windows Vista, but Windows Vista Ultimate, the top-end edition of Vista for business and entertainment users.
Inside the laptop was another note from Loki, identical to the one that came with Vanishing Point Game puzzle box, so that seems to confirm that it was also related to the Windows Vista launch.
One of the things I wanted to check out regarding Windows Vista is how well it would run under Parallels Desktop for Mac (my preferred way of running Windows) or Boot Camp, but it looks like I’ll have to wait for that, since Windows Vista came pre-installed on this laptop, without a separate install disk.
Ok, I’ll report back later on once I’ve had a chance to setup the laptop, configure Windows Vista and play around with a it a bit. Hey, maybe Apple will send me a MacBook with Leopard for a side-by-side comparison. Yeah, right.
UPDATE 1: Long Zheng is reporting about other bloggers who have been receiving the Windows Vista laptops.
UPDATE 2: Just to clear up a few points that are being discussed on various websites and forums, I did not request that this laptop be sent to me or sign-up in advance for it. I fact, I had no idea how or why I was chosen to receive it. I wasn’t even aware that I was going to be sent one until Edelman contacted me on December 20th. The email from Edelman said that it was a “present” and that it was being sent with “no strings attached”. I did not sign any kind of agreement to blog about it or if I blogged about it, to only write positive things. The laptop was shipped to me without any additional instructions or paperwork, except for the note from Loki regarding the Vanishing Point Game.
UPDATE 3: Ah, finally a word from Microsoft. It appears that this was a joint program between Windows Vista and AMD. Aaron Coldiron from the Windows Vista team left the following comment on Long Zheng’s blog:
All,
Let me take a minute to respond to some of these comments. Yes, Windows Vista and AMD sent out review computers to bloggers. Why? Because we believe in the power of community, we believe in our product, and we are partnering with AMD to give bloggers the best hardware experience we can.
I understand the concerns on ethics, and I share them. We have been up front that these are review pcs, and we encourage bloggers to disclose that. Here’s the language we used in the review outreach:
“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.â€
I hope this information helps. We want to be fully transparent about what we are doing here.
Aaron Coldiron, Windows Vista
What’s strange about this is that he refers to the “language we used in the review outreach”. I was never sent the second part of this information where he says “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.” It would have been really helpful to have had this information in advance since all along I had been planning on giving it away/donating the laptop after I was done testing it. The original email from Edelman made it seem more like a gift, which is why it think there was this big uproar about ethics and integrity. Positioning it as a review copy that can then be sent back or given away makes much more sense to me.
UPDATE 4: Well if Microsoft, AMD and Edelman wanted people to write about this, they sure got their wish:
All of this and it hasn’t even hit mainstream media yet. There seems to be quite a mixed reaction to this PR campaign. Stay tuned…
UPDATE 5: Michael Arrington received a slightly different email about the campaign. His was sent from a Microsoft employee, not Edelman. I wonder why there was so much inconsistency regarding how the distribution of these laptops was communicated?
A different approach was used with Darren Rowse of Pro Blogger, he was asked in advance if he wanted a “review machine”. I think that would have been the best approach by Microsoft for all the bloggers involved, not just Darren.
UPDATE 6: See my most recent post for for the latest updates.
UPDATE 7: I’ve decided to auction off the laptop on eBay and donate the proceeds to EFF.
UPDATE 8: The Windows Vista laptop posts, specifically the one about the laptop auction on eBay, generated the most traffic we have ever received at laughingsquid.com. Here’s some traffic analysis I did regarding the laptop auction post.
UPDATE 9: I did a follow-up post about the low Windows Experience Index score for Acer Ferrari 1000.
UPDATE 10: Sheyenne York has won the laptop auction on eBay and over $3450 will be donated to EFF.
UPDATE 11: For those of you who have decided not to read this blog post and are instead just asking us for a free laptop, if you actually read through this post you’ll see that Microsoft and Edelman send us the laptop. We do not have free laptops to give out. Any comment asking for a free laptop will be deleted. Please people, read before you write.
UPDATE 12: Ok, it looks most people are not really reading this post, but instead just seeing “free laptop”, so I’ve closed the comments. The daily requests for a free laptop were not adding an value to the conversation.
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I look forward to hearing what it is like. It seems like ages since Microsoft has released a new operating system.
i know you’ll be honest in your assessment, looking forwarsd to it!
A 2.8 Windows Experience Index doesn’t seem sufficient for “Ferrari” specs. The index currently ranges from 1 to 5.9. Microsoft says 3.0 is the “Minimum specification needed to run Windows Vista Premium features, including the new Aero user interface.’ and represemts
“value end market desktops. Slim & light laptops + desktop replacement laptops.”
See http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/pages/458117.aspx
–rj
That is quite cool! I’d be jealous if it were a Tablet PC!
So you didn’t have to pay for the new win2k service pack…. Lucky you!
I’m running RC1 on my laptop, but I would love to see it on a tablet. That would have been even cooler, but I have looked at that Acer online and it is a sweet machine. Congrats. Looking forward to hearing your review.
I probably shouldn’t make this comment, because I might get in trouble at work, but at the outsourcer I work for we are gearing up to support Vista, and even thought we are supporting it we will not be issued even a free copy of Home basic, or even be allowed to buy it with any discount. nice to know that ms is looking out for bloggers, but home users who call for support are likely to get someone on the phone who doesnt use the product regularly.
I’ve been putting off running Vista on my home machine. I am an MSDN subscriber and have access to the RC1 (think that is the one) and I have heard only negative things about driver support for it.
If I knew the driver support was good for my hardward I would be more than willing to try Vista out. I want to see how my machine will run on it and if I would recommend people to upgrade their machines to run it.
I get people all the time asking me how will Vista run on their machines and I can’t tell them because I have yet to use it.
:)
No surprise here. This is a common technique used by some companies like Microsoft. When Windows first shipped, Microsoft hired people to write online about how much Apple’s OS sucked. For all I know, it still does.
In my view, if somebody writes a comment about a product and received a free perk from the company, that person should be required to disclose that information. Otherwise, the public risks being injured. I know I value information received from unbiased sources more.
Very nice, kind of made me wish I had put my Vista review up earlier.
What I would do is go to one of those sites with instructions how to install Mac OS X on regular Intel laptops and take out that Vista and put Mac OS X. This way, I can honestly continue to use that ACER laptop and blog away without someone thinking I’m raving about Vista because of MS gift.
Does it run Aero properly?
Looking forward to see another post saying “I got a laptop from Apple too”.Till then you can play around with your Vista + Acer …
I hate to say this, since I do not know you and have not read your stuff at all, but MS has already taken advantage of you. They have accomplished their objective.
They didn’t need the influential bloggers to gush about Vista. They just needed the “airtime” to put in people’s minds that:
* Vista is coming (finally)
* Not all PCs are clunky (hee hee)
* Bloggers with influence might just receive a nice gift from MS
Note that I don’t see that as evil conspiracy. I see this as enlightened PR/marketing strategy very well played. While some may chastise you for the influence this may have on your opinions, for MS it doesn’t matter. That’s your problem, and that is unfortunate.
Carlos
Re: “Windows Experience Index” – it looks like they had a master image that was copied onto the laptops’ hard drives – and the machine they created the master image on had an index of 2.8. Scott needs to click on the link for the score, and then click on “Update my score” to get the real deal.
After updating my system’s score it shot up to 4.8
Must be nice! :D I wish my blog with that darned inportant to get a freebie! Enjoy it man, that is awesome. :)
-Chuck AKA SaltLight
That looks like a seriously naff laptop (aesthetically, I’m sure it performs well). I suggest you auction it for charity, or face criticism that you’re some kind of shill for accepting unsolicited gifts from Microsoft.
Even though I just bought a macbookpro 17″.. i’m still jealous of you..
holla
To be fair, when the first Mac 128 came out, Apple did give them, free, to various artists and creative thinkers. They did the same, except to celebrities (in part of the Emmy gift bags) for the first iPods, as well.
It’s kind of interesting to note whom the free giveaways are to, in terms of the groups.
No strings attached? What the hell use is a laptop without the strings? Those are what make it work.
Ya, I need one too..lol
Hey, I’ll not believe ‘a free lap top’? He he he… Let me see which of my dream comes true….
that is cool, in any case, a free laptop is free, right. I love free stuff. I’m curious what windows vista is like myself since I am also a mac user. hee!
Hey,
I think it’s very uncanny to give someting away so rude which is given to you for free, I would die to get such a laptop and you are just balking at it.
Such a shame
If you ever get anything again which you feel are to big to receive let me know ..
Cheers
Reino
Hi,
Just to update, I also received a Acer Ferrari Laptop from Microsoft in the month of June 2006. I participated in a Windows Vista Friends and Family program and awarded a Laptop by providing feedback on Vista Beta 2.
-Upanshu
Microsoft sucks bigtime! Pardon me for everyone i am offending by making this statement but, apple is the one and only. I send anything i owned involving microsoft stuff to asia.
But i’m very very very pleased to note that there still are humble and honest consumers.
RESPECT
Laptop With con Windows Vista no funciona para hacer videos
wuau muy buena maquina ,daria lo que fuera por tener una de esas , pues ami me gusta la informatica,y soy fanatico de windows ,me encataria que ami me regalaran una , seria buenicimo , no beo la hora de poner mis manos en una de ellas .
viva windows vista
y un saludo para Bill Gates
viva EEUU
SOY FANATICO DE LOS YANKIS
ME ENCANTA SU MUSICA ES LA MEJOR
Wow, thats surprised!!! I can’t believe.Windows Vista can change the position of Windows XP.
I just found out today about the free laptops. Here I thought it would have been given to ordinary people like me to evaluate. I understand that they need publicity but Gee Whiz. I’m a 58 year old disabled person and about the only thing I can do is sit at the computer. I would have given my eye teeth for one. I can pay my bills but don’t have money left for food let alone a new computer of any kind. So if anyone who got one wants to donate their’s to me it would be greatly appreciated.
i will like to get one
Puedo recibir alguna????
Quiero probar win wista
Hola me gustaria resivir una computadora ya que mis estudios se ven interrumpidos por razones economicas y me gustaria provar Windows Vista
Whoa, hold on…can’t you idiots read? Or are you just a bunch of lemmings following one person who can’t read? MICROSOFT sent the free laptop to Scott, Scott is NOT the one giving away the laptops.
You should send your pitiful pleas to Microsoft. Maybe they’ll send you one if you ask real nice.
Before you waste $500 on VISTA ask yourself this do i download music, movies or pictures for FREE? if you answered yes than i recommend that you dont get sucked into vista. it is exactly the same as XP accept it looks cooler AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO BLOCK MUSIC AND MOVIE DOWNLOADING. think about it hundreds, thousands of bands trying to make money and everybody downloads thier songs off limewire or morpheus or where ever they can. and what about multimillionare movies, most people like you and i just download them. VISTA has come to gether with an idea, to block all websites that offer FREE DOWNLOADING, to block all P2P software. the other day i decided to upgrade my morpheus and to my surprise anything that i wanted to download would be blocked, i typed in a song, tried to download it and it says, THIS IS A COPY RIGHTED VERSION. they are taking over our ntertainment. in 5 years vista will be installed on every computer in the world. go to your daily harvey norman or WOW catalogue and what do you see every single laptop, pc, now comes with vista. vista only came out like a month ago they would have to be mad to offer it for free. maybe if you listen to the song DOWNLOAD THIS SONG by MC LARS you will understand.pass this on. tell everybody you know, about VISTA. just amagin, teens of the future having to pay for their music and movies.
That ferrari laptop is cool!
Hi
Im Mary
As luck would have it, Mort, Mort’s Mom and myself all use Tomsastrblog for our blogs. This was handy because it meant I could use the exact same code for all of them – the only downside is that they perhaps aren’t as representative of all blogs everywhere as they could be, though the techniques I used would work for any blogging system, and I imagine the results would be much the same. But I suppose you’re all screaming to hear just what these cunning things I did are. You are, right? Yes, I thought you were.
Thank s
Hi all) first of all sorry, my english is no so good as yours.
I think that distribution of laptops is only advertizing gimmick on attraction of attention to Windows vista.
Regrettably I can not allow myself even get a proffesional version of Microsoft Windows XP since I earn 100 $ at month.
So evalute nor laptop such class nor new system I can not) All got prizes from Microsoft – my congratulations) you are very luck :) ))
i am interested in becoming a beta tester how would i go about this??
thanks , george
that laptop is marvalous, i hope it will be a great chance
I have a pentium III NEC laptop built for windows me. I upgraded it to windows XP since then i’ve been crawling with my computer and one fact is that i have a low RAM. But what im saying is i love it Windows so much and even if my laptop is under system requirements for Win XP i still chose to use that OS. My friends use mac OS and i dont see anything why they say MAC is better than Windows. I told them that if MAC is better, why do developers build wares for windows more than MAC. Almost all the cool softwares and applications ever built are for Windows. It means windows stands out among the rest. What more with Windows Vista! I wish i had a laptop than can run Windows Vista. (no wonder all of my friends have windows installed in one of the partition of their MAC computer. LoL)
Hello
I want to all of you know, World is mine, and yoursite good
Bye
The main question is “to be vista or NOT to be vista” I am lost with all the blogs I found in the net.pls. help. should I upgrade or not.some say that to many restriction installed in vista plus I am still ok with xp.I am very much considering mac this time.
hola
me parece muy interesante las nuev as computadoras, me encantaria tener una en casa y no se como puedo adquirirla.les aseguro que me seria muy pero muy util tenerla.
I have tried “windosw vista”,although a betha version.But I think,’vista’ was the best operations system that I have tied…
i am using acer laptop long time ago and i am so happy using it thank you. and i am looking for the best deela and new
I live in Viet Nam and who has not yet been use laptop with Windows vista
Hi,
The laptop on screen looks very beatiful and also the windows vista which is marvellous is being instaaled in it. So it is something we have the globe in our hand.
Hi.
I don’t know how can I say about this laptops computers but it’s the truth that there is mom to compare as well as vista it’s also marvellous. Thamks.
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