Looks like Edelman got caught with their pants down again! I got the story from B.L. Ochman. 

OK, it's the fake blogging thing all over again - except now the story has Microsoft and Edelman giving New Laptops to certain bloggers (no stings attached). 

Hmm….   Do you believe that?  Santa working for Edelman working for Microsoft (that's only two degrees of separation ….. I'm used to six).  I'm currently ordering a two new laptops right now - ACER laptops, in fact (too bad I was not to on "The List" …. ops…conflict of interest …..too bad Edelman did not realize this before they gave out the laptops to certain "A List" Bloggers)

According to B.L.

"…Edelman, is handling the launch of the new Microsoft Vista OS, and they're running, and probably also conceived, a campaign to give a group of bloggers free Acer Ferrari 1000 and 5000 notebooks loaded with Microsoft's new Vista. Retail value - $1899.99 - $2,299.99 for the computer, plus the cost of the software.

A group of high-profile bloggers started getting the gifts several days ago. Robert Scoble quipped, "Talk about Pay Per Post."

The reason is simple. If you've ever tried to add a new Microsoft OS to an existing computer, you know you can't do that without totally fucking up your computer. The only way to switch to a new Microsoft OS is to start with a new computer. And, of course, to wait a year or two while they get the kinks out.

Microsoft wouldn't chance having dozens of bloggers writing about how VISTA screwed up their computers, so they installed the system on brand new computers. They gave the computers as gifts instead of lending them to the bloggers for review, which is the norm when dealing with traditional journalists.

I guess they only give out free laptops to "A List" bloggers …. not "B List" bloggers like myself.

Darn…and I have to pay for my laptops, which are also ACER's, as a matter of fact. 

I'm sure my son would be happy to write something nice about Microsoft Vista for a shiny new ACER Laptop with Vista on it.  He broke his computer a couple of weeks ago and is going though Laptop Withdrawl. Darn…that shiny new ACER Laptop with Microsoft Vista….should have gone to Adam.  I'm sure he'd tell all his friends how great uncle Microsoft and Aunt Edelman are…..generous to fault…..  Right.

Then again, if I got a shiny new ACER laptop with Vista on it ….. it would kinda be hard for me to write anything all that critical about Microsoft (not that I had anything all that critical to say).  

I just want to know who made up the list?  What "metrics" did they use to decide who was going to get the Free Vista Laptops?

"…..Nobody has reported turning down or planning to send back the gifts. Scott Beale at Laughing Squid is joyful about his windfall. Long Zheng calls it "a nice Christmas gift" Mitch Denny is "giddy" about his Ferrari. Who'll be the first to wipe off Vista and use the new laptop with the relatively stable XP? And will he or she admit it? Don't count on it.

Sure bloggers are free to dis Vista if they don't like it, and maybe some will. But the playing field would be more level if Microsoft just sent out free software instead of fancy free computers to sweeten the pot.

Journalist Dan Warne, News Editor at APC says in a comment on Zheng's blog:

"This is a PR disaster for Microsoft. Within a few days it’ll be in every newspaper and tech publication in the world; I guarantee it."

Ho…ho…ho…Merrrrry Christmas !!! (if your on Edelman's list).  

Honestly, I think those Free Edelman Microsoft Laptops are going to become the Kiss of Death …..   I bet people who got them are going to feel somewhat ambiguous about the whole thing now (if they did not feel that way before).