CompuServe Messages

If Pournelle's free from blame in this arena, then why would he threaten to stop examining the Amiga because some whiner on BIX accused him of bias? My point about "on the take" was not about cross-over between editorial and advertising… it's about how all that largess piled higher and deeper affects one's perspective on the computer industry. For example, without any reference to Pournelle: update-itis, wherein companies release new versions of products on a schedule that outpaces many people's pocketbooks. A writer who gets complimentary copies of these updates is more likely, I posit, to say "gee, this is great, y'all should go get it" that someone who's forced to shell out cash for the updates. As for Pournelle's relationship with the Amiga – I don't understand what you're saying. (I didn't say he needed to hear that CBM was placing ads again, in order for him to write about it.) You seem to be saying that Pournelle is willing to write about the Amiga as long as CBM can deliver a machine to him, and as long as people don't complain too much about what he does… I'm not suggesting that he sells all this stuff. I am saying he gets it for free, and he disposes of it as he wishes. He uses what he wants, no doubt. And I'm not going to respond to the personal darts at me that you placed in the last sentences of both of your messages… I question Pournelle, you question me for questioning him? And no, I've never been a member of the Communist Party.