Microsoft, it seems, has found a way to compound the PR problem it created by offering free laptops running its new Windows Vista operating system to influential bloggers.

It asked for them back!

Blogger Joey deVilla, one of those who got the laptops, explains on Global Nerdy:

If you've been following the technology blogs over the holidays, you've probably heard about Microsoft's latest "guerilla marketing" move to promote Windows Vista: give some bloggers a free Acer Ferrari 1000 or Acer Ferrari 5000 laptop pre-loaded with Windows Vista to try out. The bloggers were given the laptops and had the option of sending them back once they were done with their review, given them away or keeping them.

Of course, there are ethical landmines here. And, as expected, they have been explored publicly. They icing, however, is Microsoft's reversal -- after the storm. And in the blogosphere, nothing remains private for long. DeVilla shows us just how Microsoft asked for the laptops back:

As of Christmas eve, the mail server at work has been rejecting my email password, so I haven't received the mail that Aaron has apparently been sending out in response to the flack about the giveaway. According to Marshall Kirkpatrick, it goes likes this:

"No good deed goes unpunished, right? You may have seen that other bloggers got review machines as well. Some of that coverage was not factual. As you write your review I just wanted to emphasize that this is a review pc. I strongly recommend you disclose that we sent you this machine for review, and I hope you give your honest opinions. Just to make sure there is no misunderstanding of our intentions I'm going to ask that you either give the pc away or send it back when you no longer need it for product reviews."

As communicators, giving away free stuff can raise ethical questions, especially if it's as tempting as fancy new laptops for bloggers. However, the lesson here is that a half-baked reversal will never satisfy the critics. If you made a mistake, say you made a mistake, put it in the proper context and move on.

And, certainly, never ask for the free laptops back...

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