NVIDIA and ATi: Game Over

Tom’s Hardware Guide has decided to take a stance on ATi’s and NVIDIA’s rush-to-market launches. Reviews of cards with pre-launch buggy drivers and yet-to-come updates do no service to the user. We explain why we will no longer play that game.
Today, NVIDIA is launching its GeForce 6200. We were told of the launch at the last minute with only a few days to prepare and to deal with the usual last minute changes that follow these rushed launches. This has happened four or five times in the past year. It’s always the same, with no time to do thorough testing, constant last minute changes, and a rush to print. If we were cynical, we’d have to think that the companies involved do not want us to have time to do thorough testing.



Often the product’s drivers are not ready, special editions or in beta stage and testers are struggling to keep up with last minute updates. Almost every instance results in what we now believe to be a disservice to the consumer.



Today, we announce that we are not going to play that game again.

NVIDIA and ATI have a right to pursue their own PR strategies, but the back-to-back launches and launch day competition is getting ridiculous.

So, we will review the GeForce 6200, and do it with pleasure. We are excited about the product. However, we will do it with our usual attention to detail, and will take the time to evaluate it properly. Not because we can’t rush a review out and be like everyone else. We’ll take the time to do the right thing because that’s no less than the consumer deserves.



Maybe everyone has lost sight of the fact that all the analysis that is done is supposed to serve the consumer, the interested reader and to help them make informed decisions.



We think it is time to get off the carousel of chicanery, and get back to basics.

Full story @ Tom’s Hardware