CNet
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Crazy Blue
Posted by 
Michael Walsh) on Mar 15 2008 | Tagged as: Acer, CNet, Engadget, Gemstone
It’s been really interesting keeping track of the Gemstone Blue this week (well from Wednesday).
The lastest sites to publish articles are Cnet’s Crave and of course, Engaget.
Crave has never minced its words (remember their reaction to the original Gemstone…? Phew!!)
Still this time round the Blue seems to have made a slightly more positive impression:
Acer advanced its plans for world domination with the announcement of two multimedia-oriented laptops in the brand-new Gemstone Blue series. Aside from their crazy unique media control console, the laptops’ key advancement is their 16- and 18-inch displays, which should be better for viewing HD content.
Love that “crazy unique”.
Their main article on the Gemstone Blue is here.
Engadget has possibly the best slide show of the launch event and I strongly recommend you check it out, if only to see what you missed 
Again, Engadget’s main article is here.
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Acer TravelMate 6292 on CNet
Posted by Michael Walsh) on Jun 25 2007 | Tagged as: Acer, CNet, TravelMate 6292
It’s getting hard to keep up with these reviews, particularly as they’re all worth publishing.
The latest one to arrive in my inbox is this great review of the Acer TravelMate 6292 from CNET Australia.
The conclusion: “A well-built and — shock-horror — good-looking business notebook, the Acer TravelMate 6292 would be one of our first choices for life on the road.”
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CNet, ShinyShiny and the art of good journalism
Posted by Michael Walsh) on Jun 05 2007 | Tagged as: Acer, CNet, Gemstone, ShinyShiny
This is going to kick up a storm…
I honestly don’t know how they get away with this.
I can understand everyone’s right to freedom of speech. I myself am a staunch supporter of Chris Locke’s troubled view on the modern world, but there are times when professionalism just seems to turn right and hurl itself out the window, either that or it is thrown out by prejudice and mis-information.
A case in point is the way CNET UK has just torn the Aspire 5920 to shreds. Literally. You can read Rory Reid’s review here.
If you’re not happy with that, then have a look at the video.
I personally think Rory took one look at the Aspire 5920 and wrote the entire review around that first split-second judgement but hey, I’m biased.
If it’s quality journalism you’re after look no further than my long-time favourite, ShinyShiny who’s “toilet-needing excitement” comment wins it a lifetime membership to the shallow reporting hall of fame. I can hear William Strunk turning in his grave.
Not everyone thinks the new Mini is cool. Some people hate it simply because it is. I don’t have an issue with that. What I have an issue with is when quality information is cast aside in favour of a throwaway comment, particularly if this drop in standards comes from an authority site like CNet.
When was the last time you read a good (quality) car magazine that criticized a new car with such vehemence yet without any consideration of the long-term goals of the manufacturer, its heritage or current direction and without any insight into the reasons behind a particular design or feature?
Call me naive but I personally believe that there is a difference between intelligent, informed journalism and generalized trash. The former is an art. The latter nothing more than a cheap way of generating above-average click through rates.
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