Microsoft as a Sponsor

[stevene]

I've noticed that Microsoft sponsors Social Brew with the Zune. Another thing I noticed was that the back of every laptop is covered with an annoying stick-on graphic, which is interesting because they are all Macs. What are your thoughts on this? Should they have to cover their computers just because they are competing brands?

[cacogen]

Hmm, well, I think those "stick-on graphics" (forget the name of the company) are pretty popular. Might not have anything to do with it -- though it might. I rather doubt Microsoft is mandating this as a condition of sponsorship. If they've elected to do this out of some general sensitivity to the situation, big deal.

I find it sort of odd that someone would be annoyed by stickers on a laptop.

[nextgenxbox]

I just think that's how the hosts like their laptops. Kevin's laptop shows the Apple logo.

[phoenixp3k]

Until you brought that up I didn't make the connection. I though the stick-on graphics gave them a lot of personnality and was made to be "trendy".

I still know they're using Macs, why should I have to stair at the boring Apple logo all the time? On all three laptops! I like it better this way, Zune or no Zune.

It might of been a request from the advertiser or just a decision they made internally. Zune sponsored a Diggnation once, I didn't see Kevin turn into a Windows lover or hide his Mac.

[tw33k2514]

Pretty sure its just a personal preference. Microsoft wouldn't (I hope) do something that ridiculous

[scienceking]

Yeah, I doubt MS ordered this. Microsoft is in so many markets right now it would be hard to find a company that they didn't compete against either directly or via strategic alliance. Dell, HP, Apple,Sony all have products Microsoft competes against, but also all promote or distribute Microsoft products as well! Sure Apple and Microsoft have a pop culture fixation as enemies, but really I don't think either company really focuses as much on the other as people would think. Frankly the computer industry is nothing like it was in the 80s or 90s, so the notion of such competition seems difficult to imagine. Especially because Microsoft, right or wrong, seems to believe that its days of depending on its OS and Office business are numbered and is branching off into web services and Google type stuff.
Now if Revision3 had Google logos around, I could see MS totally calling them out on those...

[ryudo]

Well even in the Paul Allen owned Tech TV days Apple/linux was openly shown and talked about and reviewed hyped or whatever so I doubt the skins have anything to do with some MS sponsor.
It's very popular right now so no MS conspiracies here IMO.

[quantumfreak]

I don't think it is a Microsoft requirement. It may be that Rev3 would like Apple to buy ads. Why would Apple buy ads if they are already getting free advertising with the logos on the computers? This is no different than what TV shows do. They'll change the labeling on products to deny a company free advertising.

Then again, it may be just a case of individuals freely expressing themselves.

[stevene]

Cancel my suspicions... I just noticed on the Live Diggnation show notes, Microsoft is a sponsor. Also, I don't really mind the graphics on the back of the laptops. It just seemed like a connection at the time.

[ntiwari]

I've noticed that Microsoft sponsors Social Brew with the Zune. Another thing I noticed was that the back of every laptop is covered with an annoying stick-on graphic, which is interesting because they are all Macs. What are your thoughts on this? Should they have to cover their computers just because they are competing brands?

They are actually called Gelaskins [www.gelaskins.com], and we use them to add a little personality to the computers. This is NOT something that MS mandated, or even brought up for that reason. Since our show has a lot of laptops on set, we thought it would be fun to have these for that extra eye candy.

I actually saw them on an episode of Tekzilla; Roger and Patrick use them, as well as other Revision 3ers...

[cacogen]

They are actually called Gelaskins [www.gelaskins.com], and we use them to add a little personality to the computers. This is NOT something that MS mandated, or even brought up for that reason. Since our show has a lot of laptops on set, we thought it would be fun to have these for that extra eye candy.

I actually saw them on an episode of Tekzilla; Roger and Patrick use them, as well as other Revision 3ers...


I've got one featuring the FSM on my laptop. Easy to apply; recommended. Have you been touched (http://www.venganza.org/images/wallpapers/noodledoodle1024_768.jpg) by his noodly appendage?

[oct_dragon74]

A little late on this one, and Neha settled it, but I thought I would throw some tid bit in. Although Mac and Windows end-users tend to fued, Apple and Microsoft are in bed with each other. Heck Gates owns stock in Apple, and at one time helped Jobs bail Apple out.

OK let the flames begin!