Personally given your background with Microsoft and their technologies (as you clearly point out and is obvious to anyone who has read your blog for awhile) I would expect you to be fairly positive over Vista regardless of the laptop, and that is not a bad thing, it just is as it is. So the idea that a laptop will sway the content of your posts is crap.

I say keep the laptop, give it to your wife, sell it, donate it (which would be a great idea) who cares your call.

But please do have your wife blog about her experiences as that I think would be a fantastic way for us the readers of your blog to get a “newbie” view on things. Oh and it would be good to get your views as well :-).

And Microsoft is totally copping a bad rap out of this over nothing. If they want to fill Vista packages with hundred dollar notes and give those to bloggers (who don’t work for Microsoft) in an effort to get favourable reviews from bloggers, then so be it. Its not like the editors of the magazines don’t consider advertising dollars when they oversee final copy of reviews.

Mitch, give the laptop to your wife mate, alot of people read your blog, get free info off it and some entertainment value. If Microsoft deemed you influencial enough to shout you a Laptop, then let their shareholders ask the question at the next AGM, it has nothing to do with you. You’ve done nothing wrong.

That would be Cathy from Microsoft - the poor lass is working over the holidays. Hopefully not just because of this marketing program . . .

Thanks for the kind words about the blog. It has certainly helped me think about a lot of the implications and also what the status of the blogosphere is.

I think one of the things that put me in the running to receive a laptop was this post by Paul Montgomery:
http://tinfinger.blogspot.com/2006/10/top-5-aussie-consumer-tech-blogs.html

If someone from Microsoft trusts Paul’s opinion then folks like me get a nice surprise in the mail and get to spend some time reviewing some kit - which I don’t mind doing - I am a complete gadget freak.

BTW - Australian IT even has a news article about it : http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20986786%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html

I’ll say this much: For all the hoopla that’s gone on over Microsoft’s laptop giveaway, it’s done a couple really interesting things.

For one, it’s led me to your site. This is the first time I’ve read your blog and it’s quite well-reasoned and though provoking. (adding to OPML file)

Secondly, it’s pointed out to a marginal degree who Microsoft considers to be movers & shakers in the blogging world. Basically, you’re either in or you’re out and it’s very black & white. This has also helped me investigate interesting blogs to potentially add to my OPML file.

Thirdly, it’s caused a great deal of controversy over Microsoft, hardware requirements, Windows Vista, and Acer’s Ferrari’s. It’s being written about in every blog, online magazine, even the local papers here. It’s being debated, discussed, and otherwise consuming bits.

I ask, would these topics be top of mind had Microsoft not distributed said laptops? One might argue that you can’t buy this kind of publicity and discussion. Just ask Paris Hilton.

BTW: Nice blog.