HP's buzzkill

We're taking back what we said. Earlier this week we gave some respect to HP for not freaking out over leaked photos and specs turning up on the web before they announced all those new iPAQs yesterday. Turns out we were wrong. Pocket PC enthusiast sites like iPAQ HQ are reporting that HP has been making their lives very difficult by requiring them to sign an incredibly stringent agreement if they want to receive the latest iPAQ Pocket PCs to review. They have to sign a confidentiality agreement, agree not to spill any information before the official product announcement, and delete all "unannounced HP product information, including postings made by participants in the website or forum within 48 hours of the posting" or risk being kicked out of the evangelist program (which means no hook ups on reviews) and face possible legal action by HP.

We understand wanting reviewers to sign non-disclosure agreements (not a big deal, though we generally refuse to sign them ourselves) or divulge confidential information, but trying to squash all rumors and speculation about unreleased gadgets on user bulletin boards is absolutely freaking stupid and ultimately counterproductive. Most companies would kill for people to be interested enough in their products to spend hours scanning the Web searching for any morsel of news about them, and what HP doesn't understand is that anyone obsessive enough to care to know about a Pocket PC that won't be out for a few months is probably one your BEST customers and is likely to buy more of your stuff not less. Kill the buzz and you're going to kill the enthusiasm for your products. It's fine if they don't want to send out early review units—that's their prerogative and they have every right to deny this to whoever they want—but we've got a problem with them taking a generally hostile position towards people who are genuinely excited about their products.

[nojetlag @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

just ignore them in the future, they will come back and lick your feet. If nobody want's to review their stuff.

[Ronnie Boon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I echo nojetlag's sentiments.

HP or any other gadget manufacturer for that matter, are just being spoilt silly by the amount of hoo-ha that surrounds all their PDA releases. When the market goes overboard in seeking information on products they are keen on, it becomes an obsession. HP is just plain exploiting this human characteristic and milking it for all it worth; because the message out there to them is, "Hey, we can sell anything to these PDA-obsessed crowd; just keep 'em guessing!"

The only way to stop such bullying behavior from product manufacturers is to stop feeding their egos.

[Marc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

...you might be surprised what some people are willing to do to be in front of the line but sites like www.PocketPCThoughts.com, www.iPAQabilities.com, and www.iPAQHQ.com have declined participation in this program.

[Kenny @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

For what it's worth, the legal dept at hp is probably totally at odds with their marketing people. There is no way any sane marketing person would be so hostile to media coverage. Then again, who knows what they're thinking over at hp!!

[nojetlag @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

and approach other companies and offer them exclusive coverage when they play by your conditions :D Let them sign a doc when they want to get any publicity :D

[Razorsedge @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

just look at daveipaq.com

[whitelyt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

It seems that davesipaq.com has signed the agreement. However we have proof that he has not followed the agreement and we expected that so we declined. In fact one of the users found a post for the h6315 that is still on the site which was posted well before the launch. We just couldn't compromise our integrity over a few products that seems lackluster anyway.

[Chas Hoard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

HP has screwed up big time in the hearts and minds category. Kinda surprising as was mentioned eariler, Marketing can usually keep Legal in check. Must have had a pretty bad reorg lately!

I agree with eariler comments; not only are the people who live on the early info your best customers (fanatics,usually), they are also the local gurus and decision-makers within their collective social groups. I know I did an iPaq, 2 Zires and an Apple PowerBook on the back to school "What does my kid need?" questions, and I am at the low end of the guru food chain.

All HP has done was shoot themself in the foot and get me to look seriously at the new Dell x50v as my next replacement piece. A pleasant increase in quality over their past units, and a lower price point than HP.

Sometimes, as the market leader, you have to take your lumps, and the high road. Shame on you, Carly!