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The Money Programme are covering the launch of Vista, here's the press release:

Microsoft's New Vista Ep 1/2
Friday 9 February
7.00-7.30pm BBC TWO

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk6/fri.shtml

I've no experience on what the Money Programme's like in terms of investigative journalism, but it'll be interesting to see if the a*se-kissing continues...

I'll report back here next week.

The saddest part of the press release is this:

"Vista will almost inevitably become a part of daily life for millions of people, at work and at home, yet most of them won't have chosen it – it will simply be installed at their office, or come as part of their next computer."

Cold,

How much is a 1 hour slot on BBC2 at prime time on a Friday going to have cost Microsoft to buy?

Maybe Mark Hattersley can find out. Could my company buy such a slot to advertise our latest product?

Is this in accordance with the BBC Charter?

How does an in-depth review such as this compare with, say, a Top Gear test drive? (Apart from being 12x longer...)

andybarton,
At least one BBC report has a bad thing to say about Vista:

An open letter to Bill Gates

Agree passionately with what you have to say, andybarton. Plus, of course, the title, 'Coming to your screen: Microsoft's new Vista'.

Christ almighty!

Roy P

This is like one of those movie tie-ins they have on ITV late at night only it's on the BBC. Bet we don't see a Money Programme special on the next Mac OS.

Also Max Flint, the presenter, kept mentioning 'rival' Google? How is Google a rival to Vista.

No Mac mentions as far as I could hear.

SNIFFY,

Agree. Very disappointing. No real insights. More like a promo film.

SNIFFY asked:
> How is Google a rival to Vista

Isn't the future sans personal operating system?

Roy P

Cold,
Is this where my TV licence money is going? To produce corporate marketing programmes for Microshaft!!!! Unbelievable!! Apple wasn't mentioned at all. Google, was a few times though. So much for unbiased journalism. BBC journalists should resign out of embarassment. I couldn't believe all the "yes" men and women who think "wow" is a really good marketing buzzword. I loved the guy who actually spelt the word for us. I certainly won't be be watching next weeks marketing programme, as I found this boring anyway.

JohnZel,

Totally agree. What a waste of 30 mins of my life!!
Brown-nosing at its finest!
"Innovative, WOW, & Cool" are the last words I would use to describe anything that comes from Vista.
Appalled that the BBC have created such tripe.
I cringed all the way through.

In was painful to watch, but I managed it.

It's just about what I expected, taking into account Microsoft & the BBC's new 'agreement.'

Some bits were incredible though. They treated BG as if he were some sort of god.

And the Mac's logos were all covered up, which I found funny. BG is seriously insecure.

Mind you, he's made a lot of people at the Beeb very well off, so I suppose this is Bill's payment - hero-worship.

Let's hope the BBC Trust take all this as suspiciously as we do:

http://www.freelanceuk.com/news/2116.shtml

Cold,

Yes, the "BBC accused of 'talking up' Microsoft" article is increasing evidence that more and more people are taking notice of the BBC's position.

As that 'anonymous' blog visitor they quoted said "The BBC should urgently reconsider their plans to align so closely with Microsoft for technology to enable digital video distribution"


Sadly, last night's programme seems to reinforce this. I was surprised also to see that the programme was a co-production with the Open University.

The 'Money Programme' used to be pretty good I recall - just as 'Horizon' once was. Not a patch on their former days and not good advertisements for the BBC.

The saddest thing about all this is that probably nobody but Mac users could give a toss.

Roy P

Is there, officially, a deal between the BBC and Microsoft?

Go to the BBC News website and do a search for "BBC+Microsoft".

Then, view the top feed on the right hand side. People ARE complaining...

andybarton pointed out that:
> People ARE complaining...

Excellent stuff.

Rory C-Jones was let off the hook by Raymond Snoddy big time!

Roy P