Microsoft's laptop giveaway rubs some the wrong way
eWeek | at | by Mike
Microsoft's latest attempt to curry public favor began on its community-site The Hive. Microsoft is doing it this time by giving bloggers free, expensive laptops.
The Hive was launched by Microsoft in the summer of 2005. At the time, Microsoft said the Hive was aimed at online leaders who specialize in consumer-oriented applications of Windows and other Microsoft technologies, such as digital photography, gaming, multimedia, home-finance and the like.
Microsoft officials also said they want The Hive to be a community that is run by the third parties, not by Microsoft.