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214 posts

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Topic # 58382 posted on 10-Mar-2010 15:06 Visit BlueToothKiwi's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

Just caught up with yesterday's episode of TV2's Apprentice NZ at lunch time on TVNZ on Demand

Yesterday's episode had a challenge from Microsoft which was interesting - but apart from that, it had the usual back stabbing and bitching that you get every week in Apprentice inbetween the contestants.

I seen Microsoft before in the Trump version of Apprentice (USA version) - where the contestants had to create campaigns for XBOX or Office live. But the NZ challenge was much more simple - they have to create a Marketing strategy for Microsoft Security Essentials.

It starts off with Microsoft's new marketing director Paul Muckleston (who has not aged much in the seven years or so he's been in Europe) and Ben Green giving the two teams a brief.

The boys team (headed by one of the girls from the other team) did a good enough campaign - with a slick presentation (compared to the other team that forgot to move on to the second slide (Damn! someone should have told them about the auto timer feature in Powerpoint).

What was interesting was the winning entrant was hammered by one of the advisors who sat in the panel for including some Coffee vouchers in the take-home brochure with the message "Here is one less thing for you to worry about". He suggested including the coffee voucher was weird and did not impress the Microsoft executive.

And when the team was challenged about this in the board room, no one pointed any fingers and they were united like teams should be and they all took the blame which was admirable.

I suppose there is a thin line between a token of good will and a blatant bribery. When does a innocent gesture like free coffee vouchers become unethical or crosses the line as a bribe?



 




BlueToothKiwi
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BDFL - Memuneh
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  Reply # 305973 posted on 10-Mar-2010 15:13  visit my Twitter page Visit freitasm's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

I watched it, didn't know it was a Microsoft challenge until the program started. Dan Philips is on Twitter (http://twitter.com/I_am_Dan_P) and it was interesting seeing his comments as the episode went on.






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  Reply # 305978 posted on 10-Mar-2010 15:38 Visit BlueToothKiwi's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

Thanks for the link, Mauricio - I see the Coffee was Nicky's idea! I personally thought it was clever!




BlueToothKiwi
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  Reply # 305982 posted on 10-Mar-2010 15:45 send private message user's profile

I thought the coffee idea was clever and played on their campaign!!  So was surprised by the mauling they got in the boardroom about it!!  

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  Reply # 306041 posted on 10-Mar-2010 19:00 send private message user's profile

I immediately thought bribery, then forgot about it completely until the boardroom.

TV shows like this (I've watched all Apprentice series) revolve around conflict and drama, and this was one of the few bad things they could have thrown at the winning team I guess...


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Master Geek

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  Reply # 306230 posted on 11-Mar-2010 12:08 Visit BlueToothKiwi's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

Satch: 
TV shows like this (I've watched all Apprentice series) revolve around conflict and drama, and this was one of the few bad things they could have thrown at the winning team I guess...


Yeah you right - but then spare a thought for the loosing team -  Being fired for showing your presentation to the opposing team! And talking of which - I saw in a Twitter message this morning that Chris (the PM of the loosing team) is running for the Super City.




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  Reply # 306232 posted on 11-Mar-2010 12:10  visit my Twitter page Visit freitasm's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

When I saw that guy showing his presentation to the other team... What a stupid move!




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  Reply # 306233 posted on 11-Mar-2010 12:11 send private message user's profile

BlueToothKiwi: I saw in a Twitter message this morning that Chris (the PM of the loosing team) is running for mayor for the Super City.


This is a joke, right?


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Master Geek

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  Reply # 306247 posted on 11-Mar-2010 12:35 Visit BlueToothKiwi's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

Satch:
BlueToothKiwi: I saw in a Twitter message this morning that Chris (the PM of the loosing team) is running for mayor for the Super City.


This is a joke, right?


Sorry - may be he is running as a Councillor (as opposed to a mayor) - Sorry Cant remember whose Twitter I saw it on.




BlueToothKiwi
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  Reply # 306248 posted on 11-Mar-2010 12:40 send private message user's profile

Good luck to him then.  His performance on Tuesday night would not have won him any votes IMO.

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  Reply # 306346 posted on 11-Mar-2010 17:54 send private message user's profile

Microsoft NZ have the episode on their site, and a bit of insight into No8's campaign too.  http://www.microsoft.com/nz/digitallife/security/the-apprentice-new-zealand.mspx

You can also get the MSE antivirus app there.


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Master Geek

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  Reply # 306764 posted on 12-Mar-2010 21:33 Visit BlueToothKiwi's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

krism: 
You can also get the MSE antivirus app there.


OK it is time to try out the new MSE Antivirus - The red flag in my Windows 7 Action Center is been annoying me for months now.

OK Done. Now why has MSE turned off my old Windows Defender? It did not even ask me! 




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  Reply # 306771 posted on 12-Mar-2010 21:50  visit my Twitter page Visit freitasm's Geekzone Blog open user's web page send private message user's profile

Security Essentials replaces Windows Defender. If you have Windows XP you can even uninstall Windows Defender if you have installed it.

I am part of the ongoing MSE Beta test group - so I am actually using a couple of versions ahead of what's being released to consumers. Very happy with this software.




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  Reply # 306863 posted on 13-Mar-2010 10:40 send private message user's profile

BlueToothKiwi:
krism: 
You can also get the MSE antivirus app there.


OK it is time to try out the new MSE Antivirus - The red flag in my Windows 7 Action Center is been annoying me for months now.

OK Done. Now why has MSE turned off my old Windows Defender? It did not even ask me! 


You don't need both Defender and Security Essentials. Don't worry about it. :)

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