Nvidia "Community Outreach"

Chris....I still have a problem why anyone involved in this wasn't more upfront. No harm could have come from everyone concerned if it was all open and upfront, yet by keeping it a secret just look what's happened.....

It's not that I don't believe you, I do....but the secrecy , if things are as you say, just makes absolutely no sense. Anyone else want to make sense of this for me? I'd really appreciate it.

 

Well said ChrisRay.
When I looked back and amazed to see how much more professional you are today. Bravo!





p.s Do you not know we miss you?

 

I am LMAO!

I did not really know about the Focus Groups, and I honestly knew about as much as anyone else here. Now that Chris has come out and explained what he does, in pretty good detail, I think the furer over this is really quite silly. So these guys get video cards, motherboards, and CPU's when needed. They are not paid, but they are briefed on the technology, and they act as beta testers for products and drivers. Sounds like a sweet deal to me. When I was first interested in computers, and before I got into the reporting business, an opportunity like this would have been something I would have really dug. I remember contacting Orchid about the possibility of some type of program where I could test out their hardware and I would do it for free (granted, they would have to provide the hardware). This was before the Voodoo 2 was released, so you can see I was hoping to hop onto the gravy train for cheap.

So, I personally would not call what these guys do as malicious or unethical. More like they are living out a dream of getting the neatest stuff for free, and having it before even members of the press. All they have to do is provide some support to forums they go to, talk about the technology, and test out the hardware.

This entire "Shill" situation reminds me of Macbeth...

"And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

btw, I am not implying that Geo is an idiot, but I hear that he doesn't shower very often.

Edited for clarity and grammar.

 

Well, which is it?

 

I give ChrisRay props for steping up the way he did. And the way he makes it sound, it's not much different than ATi's Beta program.

 

Everybody's favorite friend "rollo" just came out of the closet at anandtech.

"Enough is enough.

We are not under NDA for anything other than disclosing nVidia trade materials.

If someone you knew said their firm is putting together a group of hobbyists that he can get you in, and that you'll have access to pre-NDA material software and information and free or discounted parts, some of you would probably be interested as well.

I know people at nVidia, and AEG, and neither has asked me to post anything other than what I really think about materials both have supplied me.

This idiotic "witch hunt" has gone on long enough.

If I didn't know people at each of these firms, some of the info I've provided you would be meaningless."

Please continue to believe your fairly tales about this being a good program. My "consipracy theory" is more truth and fiction. The same "gulliable" people are the ones now accepting the coordinated damage control. While there is a focus on getting feedback, there is just as much of a focus on swaying a buyer's decision by pretending to be one of their own.

 

One is the truth and the other is damage control.

 

I did a bit of google digging on this issue.

AEG member AEGinfo profile - yielded an interesting 4th result, the cached profile of one Jade_dragonfly, linking her to AEG, it also led me here http://users.ign.com/about/AEGGamer, careful attention to the online gaming name. Further digging using Jade's name yielded http://www.johnporcaro.com/marketing/. Neither of these 2 individuals appear directly related to Nvidia in any way, but, the John Porcaro's blog is pretty much a direct outline of exactly what they're doing.

 

but I typed more

 

That is some particularly rich irony. In an effort to dampen down the perceived witch hunt, Rollo only provides evidence to those who were skeptical of this focus group's intentions by admitting his own involvement.

In all fairness, Rollo is a special case and isn't particularly well liked by some of the other AEG members (based on my limited understanding of the situation).

 

Oh, I found this quote from that Anand thread rather amusing:

Ok, it's looking like coordinated damage control a bit to me now. Next some "brave soul" at [H] will step forward to "clear up" all our "misunderstandings".

Or will it be Tom's?

 

What? Rollo is saying he is doing it on his own accord where does that stem to anything else

 

Actually, I know you never said anything like that, but I am more referring to what others are saying, as well as covering the base that you started this thread. We all love you Geo, but at least change your underwear every once in a while and get some sun.

 

wow......

 

You would be right that I waited for AEG to post their information on shacknews. I did this for a reason. I simply felt more comfortable waiting for an official responce rather than going out on a limb by myself. I think some of you may not actually understand or apreciate how terrifying you guys can truly be. I knew I would be "throwing" myself at the wolves so to speak. My post certainly wasnt cooridinated though. ((other than me doing rough drafts in notepad to try and make as sense as possible. )) I spoke to both Kombatant and Rys about this last night and if you'd like they would probably come here and speak up for me. Posting this came with alot of hesitation. And I sought guidance from some of my fellow geeks/friends such as Rys and Kombatant about how I intended to make this post and as to whether it was a good or bad idea. They were both surprisingly understanding of the situation and gave me some wonderful advice.

Anyway. This is the last I am gonna reply on this issue unless someone has a really good question. I believe I did the right thing. I hope doing the right thing doesnt burn me to he ground with my fellow enthusiasts.

Chris

 

"Public relations firms and corporations have seized upon a slick new way of getting you to buy what they have to sell: Let you hear it from a neutral "third party," like a professor or a pediatrician or a soccer mom or a watchdog group. The problem is, these third parties are usually anything but neutral. They have been handpicked, cultivated, and meticulously packaged to make you believe what they have to say--preferably in an "objective" format like a news show or a letter to the editor. And in some cases, they have been paid handsomely for their "opinions."

http://www.prwatch.org/books/experts.html

"The world’s largest PR firm, or one of them, Burson-Marsteller, would describe what it does as 'perception management'. Public relations is invisible."...

 

Haha, if there is anyone here that knows exactly how terrifying it is to post here, that would be me. Brave work my friend!