A brand new nominee for counter-productive marketing campaign of 2006: Microsoft's effort to win over technology influencers to its new Vista operating system. First, the Redmond compromises the incorruptible with a $2,200 gift, an Acer Ferrari laptop that they are free to keep; second, it offends bloggers who were left off Microsoft's Christmas list; and, finally, Microsoft disappoints the happy recipients by telling them that they have to send back the laptops, after all. Now that's what I call a comprehensive promotional campaign. Voting on worst marketing campaign of 2006 begins this evening; and the award ceremony is tomorrow on Valleywag.

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