Tom's Hardware $old out?

I respect this site for it's completeness and former unbias in all it's reviews. Now with Intel's Hyper-Threading, THG has created an entire page just dedicated to the feature. No problem, considering that it MIGHT potentially be important to certain people. However, normally I wouldn't mind that they would post it, but now they put it very prominently on their front page and when you go to the page, lo and behold... guess who it's "sponsored" by? Intel. How can an article about INTEL's hyperthreading be reliable (as far as no bias) if it's sponsored by INTEL? Doesn't sound too "honest" to me. I've noticed more ads recently on THG, so is THG looking for more $$ and actually cross the line and let Intel sponsor a specific article(s) that may exalt Intel's product(s)? Sure, it's fine that they (AMD or Intel) sponsor the site as a whole, but specific articles concerning the sponsor's products supported almost exclusively by the sponsor themselves are rather disturbing, isn't it?

~ApT~

Why is it that every time someone sees an ad on a Web site they assume the site has sold out, particularly if they don't like the opinions expressed. We have had ads and placements equal to Intel's for AMD, and was that a case of us being biased towards AMD at the time?

Clearly, an advertiser will want to be positioned next to articles that are contextually relevant. They do it everywhere. Notice how many mobo companies have ads in Tom's Mainboard section?

I get a little sick and tired of the innuendo about Tom's selling out every time someone sees an ad or sponsorship. Sales and Editorial have nothing to do with each other. Period.

Omid Rahmat
General Manager
Tom's Guides Publishing LLC

And I read through the HT section... including the newest article, which does read more like propaganda, instead of the hard facts, but that wasn't Tom or the usual staff... it was Bruce, someone that I have never noticed before (Sorry Bruce, if I haven't seen you around before), and someone that isn't listed in the About Us section anywhere. Perhaps a freelance writer. Every article seems to be done by different people, so you should expect some sort of differences in each persons preferences. It isn't until all articles show a definate bend towards one or the other would I say there is an bias. Specific reviews, perhaps, but the site in general seems to have remained pretty unbiased. Makes me believe that the writers have quite a bit of free reign to write as they wish... the way it should be.

But yes, the supplemental page that features all Intel products (not just HT enabled products, mind you) is a little over the top, but perhaps it is the work of someone else that THG decided to host. Since it isn't part of the main site, and the only link seems to be through that one article, I'm comfortable in saying it doesn't reflect THGs overall attitude about hardware.

-SammyBoy

Some day, THG-willing, I shall obtain the coveted "Old Hand" title.

Ahhh... that would explain it... is there anywhere around here that I can post some critique? I like it mostly, cept for the icons for each of the sections... looks a little less professional than the current icons. Otherwise, it looks good.

-SammyBoy

Some day, THG-willing, I shall obtain the coveted "Old Hand" title.

Well that surprises me!
I dunno, I feel the new layout is bland, but perhaps it'll change since now it's only HT axed.
I am interested however in the how HT will affect gaming coming soon article, seems interesting.
It's true the website has not had any face lift since its beginning or so I remember, so a new one might be needed.

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What I would love is informative articles like the ones arstechnica.com tells, to inform and educate us about the CPU architecture in-depth. Would really boost THG's knowledgeable reputation.
Additionally more enthusiast mods of hardware are needed, just for fun!

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THG looks like sold out for it's special HT supplements. Banner ads are fine. If THG had a banner ad everyday on top of the home page for Intel/HT, it would not look like THG is "sold out". Or THG might put banner ad with every cpu guide article. Anandtech is an example of it. They don't look like "sold out" and they are making money from tons of Intel/HT banner ads.

The current layout is nice, I don't see any reason for changing it.

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the new look will take some getting used to. first impression is, i like it. as far as the accusation about selling out. as soon as any one advertises somthing, people think they sold out. some actor does a comercial for a shaver, people think they sold out. the moral of the story is, you try to make a buck without critisizing your sponsor at the same time you sold out!

how do you shoot the devil in the back? what happens if you miss? -verbal

You said exactly what I was trying to say. Banner ads are fine, but this kind of sponsoring is bad. It may arise suspention in anybody's mind (except fanboys of the sponsor company) that THG is working for this sponsor.

I hope THG will not do this kind of thing in future for any company (including Intel/AMD/ATI/nVidia). I am afraid that we may see special GeForce-FX supplement sponsored by nVidia or a special x86-64/Hyper Transport supplement sponsored by AMD in near future.

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