When Microsoft ships Ferrari Laptops loaded with Windows Vista, everyone cries foul. When Apple send MacBook Pro Laptop loaded with Leopard, tech bloggers go gaga!
Joe Wilcox – This week, a number of tech journalists gave glowing reviews of Leopard. They received the software on Mac Book Pro laptops provided by Apple. Nowhere have I seen anyone gripe about conflicts of interest. But when Microsoft’s PR agency sent bloggers preloaded Vista notebooks ahead of the operating system’s launch, there were ridiculous accusations of attempted bribery. The accusations made it difficult for those receiving the Vista units to say anything positive about the operating system.
The blogosphere will praise Leopard as the next best thing ever and use it as more proof why Vista sucks (It doesn’t). Meanwhile, there will be little good said about Microsoft’s colossal 2008 fiscal first quarter results. Those people acknowledging the earnings results will blame Microsoft for trying to kill Linux and babies in Africa as reasons for its success. The perception: When Microsoft competes, it cheats.
The Great Double Standard | Thanks Arpit
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/internet/favorites/bloggers-apply-double-standards-towards-microsoft/1723/
Reader Comments
I am with you on this. I think bloggers tend to overreact when it comes to Microsoft and give the benefit of doubt to Apple despite it’s link .
Written by Mark on 11.02.07
I walked away from Apple/Macs back in 1996 when I took a job requiring me to do heavy duty database work. Since no real database tool existed for Macs back then, the option was to go back to PCs, aka Microsoft-based computers, using Access. For the heavy stuff, a killer app was used.
For the most part, back then, Mac had the niche on desktop publishing. With all the advancements over the past decade, there’s no noticeable difference between anything on Macs vs. PC.
There’s still nothing that can be considered a heavy duty database, as far as I’ve heard, for the Mac. That rules a Mac/Apple (whatever you want to call it today) out for me and many others I collaborate with on various projects. For desktop publishing, there’s no need for a newspaper, magazine, or designers to need a Mac for the “design” end and a PC for “the rest of the business.” Do it all on one machine: a PC.
When people bash Microsoft, the first thing they want to start with is “proprietary” or “monopolistic.”
Last time I checked, Apple was more proprietary than anything Microsoft has ever attempted. How about those wanna-be hipsters who paid $600 for an iPod the day it was released. It you unlock it, Apple turns it into a brick. Charming. You must also use the company Apple mandates for service — even if you detest the company’s poor customer service (gag!) and poor coverage areas in certain areas. That isn’t proprietary, nor monopolistic. It’s totalitarian!
Am I ever glad I dropped my Apple items many, many years ago.
Written by Dave J. (Scoop0901) on 11.03.07