OOOOh, a blogger got something for free! I mean it’s not like Paul got sent on that trip with the editor of a traditional publication like PCFormat or something like that. To be honest, as another blogger that has had a lot of great perks from Nokia, I’m unsure as to what the issue is here.

Let’s pose the following question: who are the loudest, dumbest people on the Internet: Apple users! Once a website is behind the Apple reality distortion field they never, ever get out and will defend Apple to the last breath. Lets be realistic here, the iPhone has its flaws and so does a device like the Nokia N97. Paul will usually point out annoying quirks about Nokia phones while iPhone lovers tend to only focus on the “pretty design” or the “great app store” rather than the fact that a lack of keyboard sucks for work.

Surely instead of criticizing Paul (and yes it gets a bit much at times) we should rather be so impressed that someone is so passionate about a product in such generally apathetic times? Another point is that if Nokia wanted to use Paul to punt their product isn’t he maybe the wrong person? I mean come on, the guy spend 90% of his day infront of an Apple Mac in a coffee shop somewhere. Realistically, Nokia is looking to target the office bound worker who would rather buy a Blackberry not the mobile lawyer. In this regard Paul is not the right spokesperson. He spends most of the day on a rival brands hardware and never needs to email or work on his phone as he’s always at a PC. A busy exec that is in meetings and works between those meetings would be a much more interesting blogger to target.

Of course Nokia gets great coverage from someone like Paul and (I hope) even myself but if you read Paul’s reviews it’s not purely sycophantic and he does point out the negatives.

With regards to it affecting your professional life: Well I’m not entirely convinced that being associated with a company like Nokia makes you look bad. If anything it’ll raise your profile?

Simon Dingle talks about Apple almost every ZATechShow, why aren’t we running after him with flaming torches and pitchforks? We don’t for the simple reason that it’s refreshing to see someone passionate about a brand.

I say tone is down a bit (maybe 7/10 posts can be Nokia related not 10/10) but certainly don’t stop.