Normally we would focus our efforts on writing articles, reviews and guides for the end-user, not the type of post we have prepared here. Without a doubt it's sure to annoy a lot of people, but in this important one off case, as the writer of this piece I am fully prepared to accept any flames since it is damn well time companies knew what is going on.

What am I talking about?

I am talking about the state of newly formed hardware websites popping up all over the Internet on what seems almost like a daily basis. After speaking with marketing folks from several large Taiwanese computer companies, the clued-in ones agree with me when I say that people around the world have learnt that if they register a domain name, throw up a design with fancy logo and contact companies - They'll get free hardware samples for review and in some cases, even advertising dollars!

But hey, it's great stuff...isn't it? The newly formed website spends a few days and some dollars registering a domain name and a week later they've got brand spanking new modern hardware on their doorstep from companies which have fell into the trap like so many do. What could be better than that?

Then a few weeks later the sender wonders why no review was ever posted or why the recipient cannot be contacted.

It is important to remember I'm not here to intentionally have a go at newbie webmasters or marketing people for not realizing what is happening in this rat race which is the hardware website industry.

It is certainly not all the newly formed websites which should be put in question - Several recently launched sites are putting a lot of time and effort into their sites and it shows but a far bigger percentage are infecting the industry for the rest of us - and not just site owners but readers which are subject to hopeless writing skills and a lack of technical knowledge. The time and effort consideration is something marketing folks can look out for in a genuine website - Lots of time and effort should be visually noticeable to the viewer by regular updates, or lack thereof.

We urge companies to pay more attention before shipping out hardware to newly formed hardware sites. I've heard so many cases of hardware being sent out and never being reviewed when the reviewer never had any intention to from the outset. Not everyone can be trusted and I hope all you marketing folks will take notice. If anyone has any questions, please e-mail me.

I've created a thread in our forums where people are welcome to express their opinions.