I'm posting this now, prior to any review I perform in a few weeks, to make sure my feelings on this are known publicly.

Back in November Microsoft informed a select number of bloggers and community leaders that they'd be given the OPTION to receive one of three PC systems - two being Acer Ferrari Models and one being a Media Center PC. All of these systems would be pre-loaded with Windows Vista.

It was made clear to all of us participating that we could review the items, give them away, or return them. I'll let it be no secret we plan to review and keep the laptop we received (an Acer Ferrari 5000). I will personally be reviewing this item in a few weeks. I'll also let it be no secret that MS, AMD, or Acer will have NO input, influence, or sway in how I review the laptop. I appreciate their generosity, but it has no weight in how I review this item.

A few bloggers (and several users at Digg) have naturally jumped on this and started debate around the web (first posted here). Slashdot was bold enough to call it a bribe. Several bloggers and community leaders have even been called liars in light of this; others say they were 'bought.'

Quite frankly, the accusations are absurd and I find it shameful how many users have blasted several honest and respectable bloggers and community leaders for accepting these PC's. No doubt some of these "users" will have something to say here or elsewhere about our involvement too. Let them say what they will. Our review, as always, will be straightforward and be without any influence from any of the companies providing the materials.

And for the users who want to say this was a Microsoft bribe, then lest you forget these PC's were provided by AMD and Acer, not just Microsoft. So if you feel like MS bashing, make sure you get your facts straight first.

PRO is disclosing we received one of these items, we're keeping it to review, and our review will not be influenced in any way by whom it came from. Hopefully after 5 years of providing Technology news of all kinds, our users have come to expect nothing less from us than honesty.

You can expect my review in a few weeks after my wife and I finish a move in mid-January.

Thanks,

John

P.S. I will say the system is very nice and that in the limited time I've used it I've found more positives than not. I have not used Vista hard-core yet and this is the first time I've seen it on a higher end PC. I've put it back in its box until I have time to work with it further, and I look forward to reviewing it.

Your take on this is spot on John and the nonsense that is being propogated by those you mention is just that...nonsense.

The fact is that PROnet is a leading tech community site and is consistently being recognized as such. Hopefully we will receive more such offers from other hardware and software vendors in the future. Our members can only benefit. Our objectivity and impartiality is well established.

Question to any naysayers...does a site like Toms Hardware or any of the other review sites pick up flack because they are given items to review? I don't think so.

I agree. These items were not given to us on the condition that we give them a positive review. They were given to us on the condition that we give them a review, period. Isn't that how virtually all items are reviewed by sites on the internet? And magazines? And newspapers?

We happened to have been chosen because we are high profile sites with large readership who happen to be interested in these products.

The only problem here is that those who didn't get them are jealous, and/or don't understand how items are received for review. How silly.

phileysmiley wrote:

The only problem here is that those who didn't get them are jealous, and/or don't understand how items are received for review. How silly.

yup, the big ole green eyed monster...

I bet if someone said to these people, "oh, sorry yours fell through the cracks, but we found it, here you go.." they would stop complaining..

Yes, definately sounds like the cries of jealousy................ or is that envy??

If anyone cared to look about our site, they would see that we don't necessarily jump on the Microsoft bandwagon when they bring out something new. We have always tried to report our ups and downs fairly with Microsoft software and hardware regardless of our standing with Microsoft. I have no doubt that John will do the same with his reports on the laptop.

The site doesn't and most certainly the members don't

Now we you excuse me while I go install Linux??? lol (but I really am)

Well, those Acer Ferrari puppies just ROCK ...

More seriously though : well, anyone with any kind of involvement at all in the Community will eventually get freebies (of one kind or another) headed in his/her direction, and IMO it's just plain stupid to complain about people with more involvement getting more/better freebies.

I mean, what if they actually listened to these dim complaints ... No more freebies for beta testers, nor serious IT journalists, nor friends nor family, nor anyone with any involvement with nor commitment toward pushing the whole PC Revolution forward ???!

Heck, without the generosity in time, effort, and resources of the members and Staff of PROnet, this site wouldn't even exist, and generalising that, no other tech sites would exist, Apple and Microsoft would not exist, and computing would still be an elite activity controlled by IBM --- remember those guys ? The ones that made the old business model without freebies, nor generosity, nor GUI, nor computer games, nor indeed any fun whatsoever ???

Jeez...

Anything that comes geekwards is good for all of us, even if it's another geek (not you) with his hands on the swag...

Guys out there, they have NO IDEA how much of their own input through sites like PROnet can help (in the long run) improve their own IT experiences, and freebie laptops to other people than themselves are just a (v. minor) part of the process ...

They have NO IDEA how much sheer work goes into these sites, but are quick to complain when some minor rewards are handed out to people who have done (for free) 1.000 times more for the Windows community than they ever will in a 1.000 years ...

John, I hope you enjoy that laptop, some of us do know just how richly you deserved it

---

PS John, I hope they have sent you one of the Ferrari Red ones, someone from AMD once told me that they use the exact same paint for those as on their F1 cars

I appreciate all the posts on this. It was hard to read some comments on other sites, especially when I know for a fact the people who run those sites are good, honest, and hard working people. It really has been a shame how this happened.

I thought about it more, and it was funny how many folks called this item a "gift." As if most of us had simply run our sites for 5-8 years purely for this gift. I mean it just sounds absurd. I started PRO because I enjoyed PC stuff, and I still do. No "gift," or "review item" or anything else is going to change my opinions of Microsoft, AMD, or Acer. I'll review their product as we would any other we've received.

And Julian... yep, it's red down the sides with the Ferrari logo on top.

kanaloa wrote:

And Julian... yep, it's red down the sides with the Ferrari logo on top.

AWESOME ... that just Rocks, if money were no object, that would DEFINITELY be the laptop for me

Go Kimi !!!