Week o' Dell scoops
By Ryan Block 
posted September 3rd 2007 2:42PM
posted September 3rd 2007 2:42PM
posted September 3rd 2007 2:42PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Introducing the DellPod
Zoom!
How much are Dell paying Engadget for this free advertising? Or is it just promising them exclusives? Either way how can we trust anything you say about Dell when you have a deal with them?
Xavier, we take those kinds of accusations very seriously. You assume you can't trust us because you assume we have some kind of deal to get exclusives on unannounced products. Not only is that a foregone conclusion based on a presumption, but unfortunately you're also alleging impropriety in an upstanding publication. (What's more, do you even know how this industry works?) So you'd better be ready to bring some proof instead of some BS hearsay you intend to originate. Or you can find another blog to comment on.
Please tell me the XPS 420 is among these scoops, because I've been dying for some more information about that since your first scoop on it (nice job with that by the way).
And Xavier, you really come on way too strong.
Scott, yeah, we'll have some more 420 info for ya.
Ryan, thank you. When I wrote that comment I was really hoping you would respond, but a) wasn't entirely expecting you too, and b) thought you wouldn't want to dish before posting about it more officially later this week. Well, you did, and I'm certainly grateful for it. Thanks for your awesome work.
Ryan, I dont think I'm the only reader concerned over the impartiality of this site. eg Recenetly there have even been posts actively telling readers not to buy new mp3 players because Apple is announcing a new product this week.
To me, promising 'a new Dell scoop' every day is different from having an exclusive deal with Dell and one that should be clearly expressed. I did not allege or presume anything but merely asked questions, questions I notice you didn't actually answer and even seem to imply I was right with your patronising retort "Do you even know how this industry works?"
I apologise if you have spies deep in the heart of Round Rock leaking you this information but if you have any kind of deal with Dell then I would like to know about it before reading anything you have to say about them.
As for the "find another blog" comment - No. As a reader I have the right to voice any concerns and criticisms. Advertising revenue comes from us as it is added to the cost of products we purchase. So I, along with the other readers partly pay for this site.
Xavier, please. Just because your sentences ended in question marks does not mean they aren't making accusations. Some questions are so baseless and have such defamatory implication I don't feel they deserve dignifying. Are you a child molestor? Guess what, it doesn't matter how you answer, just asking that question has a lot more significance and bearing on you than however you might reply, even if it's an unequivocal "No."
Futhermore, your arguing points make no sense. We put it together based on data and intuition that Apple would be having an event in September, and posted telling people they should hold off on buying a product. We were right. But even if we would have been wrong, it's still a pretty pro-consumer move to even put that out there. I put our cred on the line to help people make an educated buying decision.
What's more, no, you don't have any rights here, or anywhere online where ownership is not municipal, governmental, etc. Ever see the sign "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"? Believe it or not, the internet works that way too.
Still, since it seems clear that you aren't getting the picture: no, Dell PR / corp comm did not feed us this information, nor do we have any Dell ad campaigns running now or coming up in the future (that I'm aware of).
If I was hanging around a school, taking pictures and handing out sweets with one hand in my pocket then I would understand why that question would be asked.
Have you ever told readers not to buy a certain product because another company is announcing one, and that company wasn't Apple?
If you don't think readers have 'any rights here' then I think that's sad, but it's your site and you can ban who you want.
Also thank you for the information that should have been provided much sooner
"no, Dell PR / corp comm did not feed us this information, nor do we have any Dell ad campaigns running now or coming up in the future (that I'm aware of)."
not to mention... wait its right here on the tip of my tounge... ITS A TECH BLOG... not a news site.. IMHO I think that Ryan and the rest of the Writers here at Engaget are doing a great job..but it is just a tech blog..IE several Educated people take facts, proven data and they post their euducated well informed opinions based on that data and facts.. and Xavier, you need to lay off the coffee or something, because just because someone posts a blog about dell, or promises to do more about dell, doesnt mean there is a conspiracy to fleece you of your rights...
ok, i dunno why i'm being so nosy this time, but i guess i just have this urge to clear out some sort of hatred towards nothing, just like how i can't stand the irrationality of some people hating apple and/or steve jobs just cuz there're stupid fanbois acting annoyingly immature whilst creaming over anything apple-made.
xavier, you have not been the only one accusing engadget 'repeatedly telling people to stay of the ZEN cuz the new ipods are around the corner', so this is not *so* directly aimed at you:
there've been two posts (AFAIK anyways, so don't shoot me if there're more) making that statement, but only once was it MADE by engadget (by paul, to be more specific)
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/31/hands-on-with-creatives-zen/
the other one, however, here
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/creatives-16gb-zen-gets-reviewed/
was actually QUOTED from popular mechanic's review of the ZEN, which ended up being posted on engadget. but a lot of people tend not to have noticed that and straightly accused engadget of being biased (as witnessed in the presumptious comments in both threads. in fact, xavier, you're the first one to accuse engadget to 'keep saying that' in the first thread i've quoted).
just saying, that's all.
Nex, What difference does being a tech blog make to anything? If they had something going on with Dell and did not disclose it would it be ok just because they're a tech blog? Do you really think that kind of things doesn't happen?
LordFarkward, I did not ignore that it was a quote, you ignored the statement before it "mirrored our own sentiments by concluding that". He is directly saying that Engadget's stance is that "you'd be an absolute idiot to buy the Zen before Apple's September 5th announcement." Can you see the difference if a political blog quotes Donald Rumsfeld and then another one quotes him adding "this mirrors our own sentiments"? Seeing as you're quite keen on searching this site could you find a post when they've told readers not to buy a certain product because another company is announcing one, and that company wasn't Apple?
The fact is I was concerned about impartiality, and re-reading those two links I certainly was not the only one. For my troubles I've been told to find another site, lay off the coffee and, using Ryan's own logic, called a child molestor. I was never rude to anyone, I just wanted some information, information which I thanked Ryan for. Whatsmore it's information which benefits everyone who reads Engadget.
A XPS M1330 would be perfect for me.
KoOl
Hmm..
Sweet...
Here's a scoop:
"Dell takes it's sweet time in delivering readers PC."
Dude, where's my stuff?
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/08/03/23340.aspx
I so, so regret not having bought a Macbook Pro instead of a 1520 (yeah, I already have it, so it's too late).
It's tacky, it's heavy, the screen has a light leak, and Vista sucks (especially when Nvidia's taking care of the graphics).
Ugh (my girlfriend's getting a Macbook Pro, as a result)... I can only trust Dell for printing appliances now, it seems.
Must be a slow week at Apple...
zing!
Coolest.
Guy.
Ever.
K.O.
/me puts a band-aid on Engadget's wound.
Oh man, what a great post.
Awesome.
Can we get a new Apple scoop every day instead? Dells are kinda boring, no matter what they're offering... unless MAYBE you guys were givin away one of them 30" LCD displays :)
New Apple scoop every day = one Apple employee being fired every day
I agree with wikedpheonix, a Dell 3007WFP-HC giveaway would be awsome. Maybe as part of a photoshop contest?
Please silence yourself.
Don't you already have your tube of KY ready for the "announcement" on the 5th?
@ August
No, I have a tube of Arctic Silver 5 to slather all over my brand new Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600. Add that to a nVidia 8800 Ultra and I've got 1920x1200 goodness in all games with a score of 10,000+ on the basic 3DMark06 test.
You see, I like Apple because their products are sexy and easy to use. I don't have to buy their products in order to appreciate them as works of art, whereas Dell just slaps some plastic together and tries to sell it to the latest sucker. Point being, Picasso > my neighbor's son who brings home scribbles from kindergarten.
Let's try
yay?
Yay. pick me!
Dell and Scoop?
cool!
Wonder what it'll be...
If it is Apple, I am sure Engadget will find some way to put it in a nice shiny light. I am looking forward to over 5 negative articles about Dell. Why? Because they are... Dell and they are running Windows. If they were running OSX, then it would be a different story...and you all know it.
Hmmmm, you fanboys get more and more clever every day. Oh, wait.
All I can say is "market share".
Maybe, if you weren't too busy hanging out with "wickedpheonix" (sigh...nice name) up there, you would know that some Dell boxes ship without an OS installed, so you can go get whatever -nix OS you want and slap it on there.
And we all know that's where apple gets their OS anyway, so let's layoff the tard-talk, mmmk?
I just got a Dell 1520 and it came with Vista Home Premium on it. I didn't have an option to put another OS on it. After working with my Vista as long as I have, Windows is clearly the way to go.
I got a Dell because my overpriced Mac crapped out. I have never had so much trouble with a computer as I did with this "high end piece of technology."
Ok... Mod. You can delete this Apple bashing post now.
Hopefully this ships to Canada.
you win good sir.
Well its nice to know that some people actually work on labor day. :)
A new 15" xps lappy would be nice... *crosses fingers*
I HATE DELL.
I hate Apple.
me 2.
i hate apple also
Compare an Inspiron 1520 to any Apple product.
That is all.
compare any Dell to a Cyberpower PC (cyberpowerpc.com) or a homebuilt.
THAT is all.
only one company sucks more than Dell...Packard Bell!
Haha,
agreed.