How nVidia blacklists review sites: example Hardware Secrets

[thilanliyan]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/NVIDIA-breaks-up-with-Hardware-Secrets/174

The questions that are asked?
http://www.semiaccurate.com/2010/05/30/how-nvidia-blacklists-sites-hardware-secrets/

Understandable for marketing purposes (from nV's side) but sad...the press should be free. However, I doubt they would do this to the really big sites. The editor of hardware secrets does mention he is the editor also of the biggest hardware site in Brazil (and bigger than a lot of NA websites apparently).

 

[Ancalagon44]

Although its pretty bad of them, I'm not under any illusions that AMD wouldnt resort to similar tactics.

Sadly, this is more a failing with modern PR ideas. Almost all modern companies do this.

 

[DefRef]

Yawn...another day, another AT thread for the ATI fanchimps to gather and swear death upon the hated nVidia and blah-blah-woof-woof...

You want iron-fisted control of product to the press? Try the company with a nibbled piece of fruit for a logo. You can count on one hand the number of outlets that get early product for review and their continued access is dependent on not only Chewed Fruit's products being given laudatory reviews, but all other products being given, "It's not bad, but it's not as good as the [similar product from the company we need to suck up to]" reviews.

 

[thilanliyan]

^True enough...I don't think anyone is naive enough to think it doesn't happen elsewhere. However, this forum is about video cards...and I'm sad to see it happening in this realm (I don't nor have ever owned any Apple products so I don't really care if it happens there).

I'd rather a company do well on merit...ATI failed with the 2900XT and I'd be hard pressed to find anyone that recommended one over a competing G80 product. They learned their lesson and did well with the 4 and 5 series on merit. Although nV didn't fail with the GTX 4 series in some areas, they did in others...so I want to see them learn from that and come back strong next time...rather than forcing reviewers into glossing over the negatives. They should lose sales (I'd rather marketshare be closer to 50/50 with both making profit of course) and get some negatives in the reviews...then maybe they will come back stronger next time. Just my opinion.

 

[nemesismk2]

Hardware Secrets to me stands for honest and decent reviews of the latest Hardware. To me if appears that Nvidia is trying to censor the reviews like they did with the GeForce FX. Whatever you do, don't mention the poor DX9 performance just use DX8 in your reviews

 

[StrangerGuy]

This tactic actually works!

If all viewers are tools.

 

[ZimZum]

BFG10k got angry emails after his review.

 

[nemesismk2]

BFG10k got angry emails after his review.

Is the BFG10k review on http://alienbabeltech.com?

If so I can't understand why BFG10k would be getting angry emails because the review was fair and honest if you ask me.

 

[BFG10K]

BFG10k got angry emails after his review.

Actually Apoppin got an angry phone call, and now nVidia is ignoring ABT just like they're ignoring Hardware Secrets.

 

[ExcaliburMM]

All I have to say is that for me, Hardware Secrets has always been a site who's PSU reviews were above and beyond and the ones to look at before you buy anything. They're right up there with JohnnyGuru.

I think just in the presentation of their layout and the wording of their reviews you could see just how genuine they are. And so its no surprise to me that any company, be it NV, ATI, Apple, or anyone else, blacklists reviewers for honesty. Its happened before and it will happen again.

Its a damn shame, but at least we know who to trust.

 

[taltamir]

Yawn...another day, another AT thread for the ATI fanchimps to gather and swear death upon the hated nVidia and blah-blah-woof-woof...

You want iron-fisted control of product to the press? Try the company with a nibbled piece of fruit for a logo. You can count on one hand the number of outlets that get early product for review and their continued access is dependent on not only Chewed Fruit's products being given laudatory reviews, but all other products being given, "It's not bad, but it's not as good as the [similar product from the company we need to suck up to]" reviews.

1. Two wrongs don't make a right.
2. Pointing out a wrong does not make you a "fabid fanchimp"... only if you point a wrong in company A and then ignore evidence showing company B to be doing the same thing could such an accusation stand.

 

[ZimZum]

Actually Apoppin got an angry phone call, and now nVidia is ignoring ABT just like they're ignoring Hardware Secrets.

I'm no PR expert. But I would think that shitting on the media isnt very smart. Especially when said media is held in high esteem by the very community that you market your products to.

 

[nemesismk2]

What I find crazy is that I bet alot of the readers of Hardware Secrets have an Nvidia video card and now Hardware Secrets have been blacklisted by Nvidia? Crazy

 

[taltamir]

I'm no PR expert. But I would think that shitting on the media isnt very smart. Especially when said media is held in high esteem by the very community that you market your products to.

Common sense trumps any would be "expert" when it comes to human interaction, relationships, and behavior.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Actually Apoppin got an angry phone call, and now nVidia is ignoring ABT just like they're ignoring Hardware Secrets.

What is suprising to me is, from what I read of your review, it wasn't like you really shit on Nvidia. You stated they have some driver issues to work out, but the GTX470 should be a better part than the GTX285. Not like you said the GTX4xx cards are garbage and that they should be avoided at all costs. Sheesh, overreaction on Nvidia's part!

 

[Leyawiin]

I don't agree with blacklisting of any sort, but that year old review was a half-assed effort on Hardware Secrets part.

 

[MJinZ]

I really wish that ATI was better than Nvidia.

 

[jvroig]

I'm curious, would they have enough balls to do this to AnandTech or Tom's Hardware or Hexus as well? Or do they just blacklist what they think (correctly or incorrectly) as smaller fish?

 

[waffleironhead]

Actually Apoppin got an angry phone call, and now nVidia is ignoring ABT just like they're ignoring Hardware Secrets.

I had noticed to absence of focus group postings in your forums as of late. I guess I now know why.

 

[solofly]

Vote with your wallet folks, that's how it's done...

 

[Dark4ng3l]

I had noticed to absence of focus group postings in your forums as of late. I guess I now know why.

Hmm a strategy that gets rid of the focus group? Looks very promising.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Vote with your wallet folks, that's how it's done...

That's how I did it and will continue to. Money talks.

 

[sandorski]

Hmm a strategy that gets rid of the focus group? Looks very promising.

hehe

 

[Voo]

I'm curious, would they have enough balls to do this to AnandTech or Tom's Hardware or Hexus as well? Or do they just blacklist what they think (correctly or incorrectly) as smaller fish?

Yeah it's not like they would ever do that to AT.

Oh wait, wasn't there a small story back when they launched the abysmal GTS250, aka 9800GTX+ aka 9800GTX aka 8800GTS?
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1051123/nvidia-cuts-reviewers-gts250
Or if you want it from Derek himself: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2731/2

Granted that was a rather small launch, in which nobody was interested in either way (except for the new record in how many times you can rename a basically identical GPU), but I'd say that's a precedent.

 

[MagickMan]

Yeah, Anand's 4x0 review wasn't "glowing" and he did heap criticism on to the 470, but NV didn't blacklist him. Is it because he's the 1k pound gorilla and they're too cowardly to take him on? Which sites are so big that they're immune to Green's tactics? Anand, Tom, Ars?

I really wish that ATI was better than Nvidia.

It is, as long as you take into consideration issues like power consumption, heat, OCing headroom, and value.