"Ok, so yeah, I’ve been blogging about Microsoft quite a bit lately. I guess their marketing people are doing their job well, since the launch of Windows Vista is next month. Speaking of which, last week I received an email from Edelman, the PR firm who is handling the launch of Windows Vista, letting me know that Microsoft is sending me a present in the form of a laptop with Windows Vista installed on it, no strings attached."
Source: Laughing Squid
Now that's the way to do it! Okay, not everyone who gets a laptop will write nice things about Vista, but the point is it doesn't matter; the fact that bloggers are writing about it will get it up there on search engine results, and if bloggers do write bad stuff about it, it gives Microsoft a chance to add to the "global conversation" and put their views forward. So long as there's no strings attached and the bloggers declare their "conflict of Interest" then this is definitely a good idea. Nice job Microsoft!