BOYCOTT NVIDIA!!!!

[alpha]

Recently, Riva3d.com posted a review of teh Voodoo5. They received a call from nVidia PR people soon after, who made it clear that they weren't happy. Full scoop here http://www.riva3d.com/letter.html
I vote that we boycott nVidia and refuse to buy there products until they stop trying to censor the online hardware community. I am trying to lead a boycott on my site http://zxboards.8k.com and I encourage you all to help. BUy 3Dfx instead if you need a new card - it'll be worth it!

[Snuffy!]

That's a pretty **** nasty thing that Nvida did, and I think anyone involved in scam should be fired, but that doesn't mean you should stop trying to buy Nvida products, just because the people work there suck, doesn't mean the products suck. I'm gonna keep buying Nvida, cause I have a Geforce, and I think it rulez, and when I want a new card, it'll prolly be another type of Geforce, cause Nvidas products kick ****, pitty about the developers though. I don't really think you can make a difference against a titanic snotty nosed company like Nvida though, especially when the Geforce2 is better than the Voodoo5 5500 anyway.

[This message has been edited by Snuffy! (edited 07-06-2000).]

[DrCorvette]

I tried to comment there and tell him how we at sysopt support the problem and will help to achieve peace. However I couldn't sign up, see =>> Script Error
Couldn't write the Members.email file
Path: /web/riva3d/cgi-bin/UBData/Members
Reason : Permission denied

[alpha]

I think that people should stop buying nVidia until they fix up there PR pollecies. I don't wanna get into an argument about the quality of there products, but the V5500 is just as good as the GeForce2, which bites at 4x FSAA and doesn't support motion blur - they both have there strong points.

[Shnak]

hehe won't be hard for me... never bought a nVidia product :P

I'll think about all this before buying one too...

[brandon184]

So nVidia got upset since they didn't review and actual nVidia product?

Why all of a sudden is nvidia thinking they are microsoft?

[jad1097]

Lets stop buying Microsoft and Intel products too!! Oh don't forget what people are claiming AMD is doing to Asus.


I will by another Nvida card without hesitation as I will buy another MS or AMD product without hesitation.









[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 07-06-2000).]

[alpha]

I've never seen intel give out to Tom Pabst about him reviewing AMD products when they supply him with so much stuff. Infact, nVidia didn't supply anything to Riva3d.

We all know about microsoft, and I would stop buying MS if there was an alternative. The fact of the mater is, there is not. It is the only OS with support for all most all games on the market, software for MACs is expensive and less avalible, linux is good, but hard to install, can give trouble getting things working and lacks high software support. I'd love to boycott MS, but I can't!! The fact of the matter is that there is an alternative to nVidia, a very good alternative, that will run any game a GF2 will, will run some better, does 4x FSAA well, supports motion blur, etc..

So stop the censorship of the online hardware communtiy, boycott nVidia!!

[bkehoe]

Hmm, if we boycott NVidia, why not Intel too? Yes, lets boycott everything. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Intel use the exact same tactics, its just no one officially said anything about it for their own sake. Like if you were Abit, would you delibertly cut off your supply of Intel chipsets? I think not.

I have had everything NVidia and 3dfx card since the Riva128/Voodoo2. Currently have a Voodoo5 in here, and also have a Geforce2 coming next week. At the moment the t-buffer doesn't do much so I may use the Geforce2 in this computer depending on how my tests in the apps I run go now, and when newer versions come out. But I expect to be using the GeForce as the DVD in the Voodoo5 sucks and I had to put back in my Hollywood+ card.

And to finish off, NVidia wouldn't care about a 'boycott'. How many people out of the percentage of future buyers of the GF2/GF2MX visit here, or even look at this thread? Even those who know of it, are still going to buy the product if they think it's best. A boycott doesn't half the fill rate of a GF2. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

Brendan

[AuraEdge]

Okay..I just want to make 2 points...
First off, this was the job of the PR people, not of the hardware manufacturers or technology people. If you take a look at www.hardocp.com (http://www.hardocp.com) and its recent news on this issue, it makes alot more sense. This bad publicity is the result of 1 or 2 people, out of a large company like NVidia. This is an incident of a few bad apples in my opinion.

Second of all...Boycotting NVidia products, which you will probably buy once a year or 2, and once every half year AT MOST, isnt going to matter.
People who boycotted tea in the colonial days were boycotting a product which was dependent on daily revenue. Nvidia can have alot of bad days and still make it on top, because it is a hardware manufacturer. If you boycott Nvidia, and have bought a GeForce SDR, you may be waiting til the next several 6 month graphics cycles to NOT buy thier chips.

Another thing - this would be a very childish reason to not buy something. If a card plain sucks, that would be a good reason to boycott it. If a card's company has bad reps who shot out one email of opposition, then that proves that the company needs some new PR people, not that thier chips are not worthy of being in your computer.

[Fingers]

If you wish not to patronize a company because you dont approve of something they've done, go right ahead. But DO NOT try to influence MY opinion on the subject.
If everybody boycotted everything that everybody though was unfair, then we wouldn't be able to buy anything.

[Konan555]

Can we just botcott 3DFX for treating their customers like dirt?

If you want an explanation as to why I hate 3DFX so please post and ask - but for now i shall avoid the RANT

[bkehoe]

As I said, we'll boycott everything! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

3dfx Athlon support on Voodoo5 is not to be recommended. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif My P!!! 800 gets more FPS than my Athlon 1000 with the Voodoo5.

It wasn't about the better card. I was just saying that a buyer won't let a small boycott stop them from getting the card they want.

And as AuraEdge said, 1 or 2 employees who were mistrained is not an excuse to boycott an entire company.

Brendan

[OuTpaTienT]

There was a period in my life when I too would just leapfrog any rational points and jump straight to the extreme end measure...boycott!

Not only do they not work, but the only people they hurt is the people participating in the boycott.

However, if you feel that strongly about the issue, the by all means you should do what you feel is appropriate. If it's boycott, then so be it. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Hell, ever since the Exxon Valdez incident I have not given one cent directly to Exxon. I guess in hindsight I've boycotted them. I didn't rant 'n' rave and try to make others boycott them...I just knew I wouldn't feel right if I did anything to support a company like that. I'm pretty sure they didn't notice my absence at their gas pumps once or twice a month. And I'm sure they didn't call emergency board meetings of the CEOs to discuss strategy in regaining OuTpaTienT as a customer. But that doesn't matter. What did matter was I felt it was the right thing for me to do. So I did.

And if you want to boycott nVidia,...more power to ya. But give it some thought. You're going to (in theory anyways) "hurt" people like nVidia's engineers, technicians, programmers, investors, stock holders, etc., etc. just because a couple of their PR people were clueless about what's acceptable behavior and what's "over the line".

But that's your choice. And I will have enormous respect for you as long as you're consistent in your philosophy. Which would involve you boycotting nVidia, Intel, AMD, 3dfx, S3, Microsoft, NBC, ABC, CBS, Dairy farmers, Cattle farmers, General Foods, ADM, Disney, Nintendo, Levi's, everything from China, and on and on and on......

So go ahead, spit all you want into the ocean, just don't expect it to raise the sea-level.

[DrCorvette]

Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen. The pen is mighter than the sword, if you're that peod then write a letter, lots of letters, to the stockholders, the chairman of the board , the treasurer.. you get the picture, and name names if you want results.. the old Docktor knows his stuff here.. DrVette

[Snuffy!]

Well, I still think, that whatever you do, The Nvida people would just laugh anyways, because it won't make a difference to them.

[OuTpaTienT]

It's possible to get at least a bit of satisfaction if you can find the right person to contact.

Not too long ago I was having a bear of a time with a Lexmark printer. The customer service was half-asses at best. So I spent about 45 minutes scouring their web site for possible targets of a well worded email. I chose two big-wigs that were buried DEEP in the web site. Sent my emails to them...and had an explicitly detailed 4 and a half page response in under 6 hours!

[jad1097]

Well you can boycott them if you wish but I doubt you will get much support or even make any difference. I just think you are wasting your time.

The reason I used MS and Intel as an example is because of the "it seems as if they've been more than willing to flex their muscles when it comes to things they don't like" comment that was made by the person who wrote that letter.

[alpha]

This isn't about the better or worse Graphics card, it's about the rights of the online hardware community. You really think I'm gonna isolate the boycott to this thread? I have it up on my Website, and I'm linked to from HardOCP.com.

[alpha]

Got in in front of me Jad:
Whether we succed or not, we have to try!!

[alpha]

Heh - I'll have to try emailing one of da fat cats then...
No response from any other department so far...

See, I don't get hurt in this boycot, because I can't afford an nvidia card anyway! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Konan555]

What's irritateing is that when you're treated badly by a company there's oftern no way of getting back.

I'm not going to boycott 3DFX - if they make a card that meats my requirements - I'll just resort to e-mailing them abuse hehe thats mature.

It's all down to SMP - 3dFX have basically told SMP users to go away saying "We're working on the voodoo 4/5" and is that SMP capable??? NO! It's not hardware dificultys (metabytes wickedGL works with r_smp 1 but is unstable on mine) it's just down to writeing drivers - but since the mass market isn't SMP they just don't care, once you've spent your money they don't care.

So sod them I'm getting a TNT / Geforce with the good old detonator.

[alpha]

Why don't you email nVidia and say that they make great cards but you won't buy them until they sort out there PR people? I have, though I can't afford a GF2 anyway...

I have received a lot of flames from people saying that I'm irresponsible for recommending the V5 5500, which they say is a POS inferior card - I prefer the V5 5500 and would recommend it anyway, and I believe it is uperior to the GF2. This isn't a discussion about which manafacturere is better though it keeps turning into that.

[bkehoe]

Fine, boycott them. Its your own decision, but as lots of ople have said it will personally have effect on the designers, engineers, e.t.c. who have done the real work and made the fastest card. A boycott is ten steps too far. If you want to express anger at them, send a polite email to some 'director' expressing your concern at the behavior of a few runaway pr people.

Ahh but it is. If it wasn't you would want to boycott 3dfx too (as an example). I bet you that if you prefered Nvidia you wouldn't be trying your best to turn everyone against them, ehh? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

Brendan

[alpha]

Hangon, I really really like the GF2, I just prefer the V5500. I do not favour any company in this.

[Konan555]

YEY! let's make our own cards!

Let's face it a boycott won't do anything anyway, we have to live with theese things. Let's face it SYSOPT doesn't make or break companys like this.

As long as Mr Public pops down PC-WORLD with £250 and says "I want good graphics for my PC so I can play windows pinball" and the salesman hands over a geforce nvidia are makeing money.

As long a magazines say "Ge-Force is the one" and people listen nvidia are making money.

And can't see it getting personal.

Thats the way I see it the best thing to do is get the best card (which includes good support) and not let disputes get in the way of your system.

To make yourself noticed, start up a web site and e-mail a director makeing sure he/she is aware that your corespondence will be published.

Anyone know about the legal technicalitys of that sugestion?

[OuTpaTienT]

Hey, at least you made somebody's news page, look here:

<A HREF="http://www.pclamer.com/" TARGET=_blank>nVidia Boycott? - by Examancer 7 July, 2000 @ 04:33:17
Well, many of you know that Riva 3D, an nVidia fansite, was told by nVidia that they did not appreciate that they reviewed a competitors product (V5 5500). Because of this some guy has decided to start a BOYCOTT of nVidia. Well, maybe nVidia's PR reps went too far, but what are we supposed to do, buy a V5 (overpriced) or a G400 (outdated)? YEAH RIGHT! I say we EAT HIM!!</A>


Funny.

[alpha]

Ok. all is good with nVidia and affiliate sites. Check out www.riva3d.com (http://www.riva3d.com) and you'll see that all has been sorted out. BOycot is officily off. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

hmm - PcLamer doesn't like me, but hey, there name says it all http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

edit~
PS Konan, if you had been a bit more observant, you would have seen that I did start up a website and email da nVidia peoples.

[This message has been edited by alpha (edited 07-08-2000).]

[skywalker[TSG]]

they are the microsoft of videocards and should be treated as such

[Oli]

That's really bad

[alpha]

What's really bad?? nVidia have sorted everything out and there polecies have been changed to the benefit of all affiliate/fan sites http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[AuraEdge]

MS is around, and has a very bad rep by the IT world, but most of us uses windows, and probably uses office as well, along with maybe an intellimouse and a MS keyboard.

No one even feels a little funny about typing something like 'M$ sucks' from a windows OS.

I think, if youve got a mind to think with, then you will buy the best possible card for your money, regardless of company rep.

Whether you think the V5500 or the GeForce 2 is the better card is another question in itself.

I personally have a MS mouse and keyboard, running a MS OS, with a Nvidia video card.
I bet alot of you are in the same pool.

[alan]

gotta agree with jad, why boycot nvidia, seems childish to me

[alpha]

Em, hello, the boycot is off!! Everything has been sorted out with nVidia. I gotta, I'm bleeding form my mouth - don' chew paper clips...

[Fingers]

"The boycott is off"

Come on alpha, the "BOYCOTT" existed only in the minds of the very few people that called for it. Nvidia may have lost some sales due to all the bad press, but they certainly weren't affected by the "boycott"

You make it sound like your "boycott" forced them to comply...HA. They are just doing normal "damage control" after they recieved some bad press.

[skywalker[TSG]]

ditto that fingers

im glad they solved this because i think that they make wery good products and they should take care in the future when making these kind of comments to a hardware site just for the fact that they did not rewiew a nvidia card

[bkehoe]

I agree with Fingers. There never was a real boycott.

Brendan

[alpha]

Duh, I know my actions did, well, not much, really. I had a lot of support from the guys at HardOCP's forum, some of them purchased 3Dfx cards instead of nVidia ones.
The boycott is off because Ross at Riva3d sorted everything out with nVidia for the good of all fan sites. I don't want it to sound like we forced them to comply, because we did not.

Can you really blame a guy for trying, successful or not?

[danb4]

I think some of you are missing something here. It said on the Riva3d site that they receive money from Nvida for their site.

Seems pretty obvious to me, Nvida can say "Hey, we don't like your content take it down." If you accept the money, you're accepting the conditions attached.

Folks, this is was a squabble over content at a site that Nvida plays some role in financing.

I gotta agree with everyone who said the idea of a boycott is absurd.

The situation would be entirely different if Nvida wrote a threatening letter to Sysopt, for example.

[alpha]

Actually, it says that they do not receive money for what they do, it's just badly worded.

[jad1097]

Actually it is gone!

My intentions in the Open Letter was to try and convey to NVIDIA my feelings of frustration over a variety of issues. While my intentions were good, my execution of this whole incident could have been handled much better.

[Szech]

Oh my... what nasty things to say! Anyway, I'm broke, so technically I'm boycotting everything.

[alpha]

It's the only way to be szech... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif