Microsoft, in partnership with AMD, has sent the Ferrari 1000 or Ferrari 500 Laptops (Acer and Scuderia Ferrari) pre-loaded with Windows Vista Ultimate to "key community folks". [read full disclosure at the end]These dual-core 64-bit AMD TurionT laptops were either directly shipped by Microsoft or through Edelman, their PR firm.
Here's a list of 25 bloggers (myself included) who have received the hardware and what they intend to do with the Microsoft Christmas gift.
1. Mauricio Freitas - Decides to keep it.
2. Scott Beale -
3. Ed Bott -
4. Mitch Denny - Gives it to his wife.
5. Darren Rowse - Will donate to charity after reviewing.
6. Barb Bowman - Decides to keep it.
7. Josh Phillips - Decides to keep it.
8. Brandon LeBlanc - May offer it to blog readers or send it back to Microsoft.
9. Michael Arrington - May give to someone at CrunchGear.
10. Joey deVilla - Decides to keep it.
11. Marshall Kirkpatrick - Will probably return it to Microsoft.
12. Zen Heavengames - Decides to keep it.
13. Robert McLaws - Decides to keep it.
14. Mark Evans - Will give away in a contest.
15. Andru Edwards - Likely to give it away after review.
16. Om Malik - Ferrari box remains unopened. Will ship it back to Microsoft.
17. Craig Pringle - Decides to keep it.
18. Electronic Punk - Decides to keep it.
19. Mary Jo Foley - Accepts it as a loaner for temporary use.
20. Steve Bink - Decided to keep it.
21. Ryan Wagner - Will probably keep it.
22. Long Zheng - Decides to keep it.
23. Barry Gerber - Decides to keep it.
24. Hugo Ortega - Will probably give it away.
25. Amit Agarwal [me] - Decides to keep it.
Yes, I have received a Ferrari Laptop from Microsoft and I have no intention of sending it back to Microsoft or giving it away in charity.
I will keep the laptop with me just like I accepted the Digital Photo frame from Google, NFR software licenses from various companies or those MVP Freebies.
Though our existing Dell Machine is fast enough to run Vista, Microsoft has made the job simple by sending a new machine pre-loaded with Vista Ultimate. Not sure if they sent me this for being an MVP, as a blogger or because this blog made it to the Microsoft BlogStar contest.
Update: AMD just sent me an Oakley Vertical Computer Bag for storing the Microsoft-AMD Ferrari Laptop.
Find this article at: http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/12/bloggers-who-have-received-microsoft.html
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
Greetings,
I think you are receiving the laptop for two primary reasons:
1. You had participated in their Blogstars contest and
2. You being a bloggers with wide reach of audience, will make it a worthwhile effort for Microsoft to get the review (your review) out to many people. This will be much more in value than a laptop that it might take Microsoft to reach those many number of people about their new OS ;) through standard Ads!
Will wait see a review from you :)
Written on 29/12/06 1:50 AM
Amit,
Journalist or fanboi? You just chose the latter.
Written on 29/12/06 3:34 AM
Amit, where did you get the idea that I had "decided to keep it"?
Within four hours of receiving it I publicly stated I would return it or auction it off for charity.
Please correct your post.
Written on 29/12/06 3:42 AM
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Written on 29/12/06 6:55 AM
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Written on 29/12/06 7:07 AM
Hi Amit,
Actually some of us have been asked explicitly to give the laptops away. :(
Written on 29/12/06 8:03 AM
Wow..and to think of it all, you are getting so many awards just from a blogger account. But off-course, your blogging credentials are unmatched by any means.
Written on 29/12/06 11:00 AM
Amit Ji
Some update : Now Microsoft Wants Its Laptop Back?
Source - http://marshallk.com/microsoft-wants-its-laptops-back
Written on 29/12/06 11:47 AM
Hey i just found a broken link.. basically a typo on this page.
Check out number 14. yaa thats the link to your own blog & you have given a wrong URL for the same(http://http://) repeated twice ... Just check :)
Written on 29/12/06 1:20 PM
Congrats Amit,
You certainly deserve it and wish you all the best for you endeavour in this field.
Written on 29/12/06 2:46 PM
Someone should install Ubuntu on it and then sell it on ebay!
Written on 29/12/06 2:46 PM
Wonder if this controversy is helping or hurting Microsoft? Sometimes controversy helps sales. For that matter is it affecting AMD in any way either? AMD is less mentioned in this fiasco.
Written on 29/12/06 4:01 PM
Amit, watch out for the tax angle. The IT Department may feel this is too expensive a gift and may want to a cut.....not 100% sure but just a word of caution
Written on 29/12/06 4:42 PM
It's interesting to look at this. The negative feedback that Microsoft received by giving free machines to people who could potentially say nice things about them is amazing. While it could be seen as "buying" loyalty, I'd say it's more like giving some people who potentially wouldn't have bought vista a vista machine with the potential to impress. It's amazing how the interweb community always spins things that larger companies to in a negative light. Oh well, I look forward to a solid review from at least a few of these blogger, and hope that the controversy doesn't negatively impact their reviews.
Written on 29/12/06 8:04 PM
... and there's the difference between a "journalist" and a "wanna be" who runs a blog.
You just compromised your intergrity. Congratulations!
Written on 29/12/06 10:02 PM
I've read now that you must either give the laptop away or send it back. What's everyone going to do now?
Written on 29/12/06 10:14 PM
Anyone can be bought. Sad but true.
Written on 29/12/06 10:57 PM
We also have received a fully loaded Media Center PC from Microsoft as part of this campaign. People need to stop complaining - in reality, it really seems that those complaining are those who weren't chosen. It is COMMON PRACTICE from companies to get their products into the hands of those who review said products, prior to a launch. How else are you supposed to review them before they are available to the general public? This isn't just for the tech industry - Ebert and Roeper see movies - for free - before they are available to the public. Any problem there? Probably not.
Plus this is a part of something bigger that Microsoft is doing - the Vanishing Point game, where Loki is the one "planning" these giveaways.
By the way, we will likely give it away after we get everything that is Vista-related reviewed.
Written on 30/12/06 1:30 AM
I find it amazing that so many people bring up credibility, how much someone deserves this gift, and how so many people are concerned about what each of the recipients of the PC's and Laptops that Microsoft sent out are going to do with said equipment. It is almost like they want to be the first "in the know" to line up and get one...hehe...and I actually think that is what it boils down to.
I anyone knows or has been reading Amit's posts and stories for any amount of time...then they would know that he is a non-biased person on his assessment of everything from software to his in depth instructions. Amit is not biased in my view with or without the laptop.
Those donating their laptops to charities or selling them off to let the proceeds go to non-profit organizations is a great gesture, but that was their decision...probably before all the calamity and uproar about being "bribed" and "credibility". Good lord...how many sites that deal with hardware have received test equipment that they were allowed to keep? I am sure there are tons of those out there...I am also quite sure that a majority of those sites retain their objectivity and unbiased approach to testing this hardware.
In the end it is more about the "what about me" factor than it is about who got these units. That's my piece!
Ctrl www.ctrlzone.com
Written on 30/12/06 3:55 AM
MS is wimpy to let a few comments change their original deal. I didn't get a laptop but I sure would have been happy to disclose it if I had and then give an honest review of the software. I keep all software I review - after all my time reviewing and posting a review is worth something.
Written on 30/12/06 11:01 PM
I do agree that whoever distributed these laptops and systems shouldn't have changed the deal based on the uproar of the disgruntled and suspicious. The whole thing would have seemed more legit had they not done that, but again...Who is to say how long a thorough review will take? I mean if you want a review to truly be thorough and complete on both the hardware and vista that will take time...years maybe:P
I feel that most reviews come with something...and that is the perk of keeping those things you review in some cases. In my opinion that in know way compromises anything. Most people can read through a bad review and know that it is bad. Seems that most people that are aficionados of electronics or the industry will not rely solely on the review of on person anyhow.
Written on 30/12/06 11:26 PM
at first glance it looks as if ms is giving them laptops in hopeful exchange of a positive review. and it is. :)
but like others said, you compromise your integrity if you accept it. unless you write a review totally bashing it a week later. ;)
of the software i've reviewed it has taken months to get a good honest review. there is the first glance, "this is great", "this sucks" and then over time you may have different review, "i see why they did this. it no longer sucks. this other thing still is awful. this other thing still is great." so giving it away right away maybe counter productive.
it appears if someone accepts it that they compromise their integrity. someone would reeally have to know themselve to know their review will still be truthful if they accept a gift.
Written on 31/12/06 2:44 AM
Would appreciate it if you could support my blog below, Amit: http://vistaferrari.blogspot.com
Let us know once you receive your notebook also.
Thanks!
Written on 1/1/07 7:39 AM
I will be keeping my 1000 :)
Written on 2/1/07 4:10 PM
u received it because u were in the top 20 in blogstar
Written on 3/1/07 2:48 PM