Microsoft the Ultimate Pyramid Scheme?
- 2005.08.03
Sometimes
the headlines just write themselves.
According to an article at the Register,
MS Website Trumpets 'Pyramid' Company, Microsoft has been
featuring a case study about GoldQuest, a pyramid scheme
company!
This, of course, is not Microsoft's fault. Companies that use
Windows to generate funds through pyramid schemes do not have to
tell Redmond what they are up to any more than purveyors of
spyware, adware, viruses, Trojan horses, networks of zombie
computers belching up personal information to Mafia lords,
spammers, or anyone else has to. These things manifestly do not
have anything to do with Microsoft per se, any more than
. . . some other analogy that I was thinking of but
forgot.
Any way, the point of this article (and I do have a point) is
that Microsoft itself is a kind of pyramid scheme.
In your classic pyramid scheme, you sell something of limited
value and tell the seller that they can make money by selling the
same valueless thing to friends for the same price less a minor
finder's fee. The "mark" is told that as more people join the
pyramid, more money trickles down the pyramid to him through the
finder's fees, eventually making him rich with very little
effort.
In the Microsoft version, the "mark" (an IT guy) is told that if
they use Windows, they'll be more compatible and more productive.
Further, if they convince 10 users in their company to use Windows,
then all the additional savings will be passed on to the IT
department, which can hire more people to take care of the
additional computers.
Managers further up the food chain know to get a budget proposal
through the executive committee. They need to include a technology
line estimating the costs of additional computers, data storage
resources, etc. required to complete a project. The IT guys clue
them into the savings they will have if they go single-platform
across the company, and the managers buy into the pyramid.
CEOs and CIOs are told not only by the managers but by the IT
staff as well how going single-platform (read: Windows) will save
them money not only for a particular project, but for the budget of
the company overall.
Funny thing is, no one ever writes a line item in a budget for
the savings. No managers ever get additional resources for these
savings, and somehow the IT staff always seems to soak up the
savings without managing to cut staff, reduce expenses, or increase
productivity.
Isn't that a pyramid scheme?
In a true pyramid scheme only the people in the first layer get
really rich. And those would be . . . umm . . .
lemme see . . . it wouldn't be the people actually
using the computers, hmm . . . not the managers
. . . not the CEO or CIO . . . hmm
. . . it would have to be . . . .
Microsoft!
Why is it, I wonder, that people always say, "They are making us
all switch to Microsoft," and never, "We are all switching to
Microsoft because we want to?"
Recent Lite Sides
- You Might Be a Computer Geek If..., 06.17.
20 signs that you just might possibly be a computer geek.
- What if Apple thought like a PC company?, 11.01.
Apple has innovated and blazed its own trail. But what if it had followed the path taken by the PC copycats?
- How Microsoft can turn Vista lemons into lemonade, 10.22.
How Microsoft could profit by no longer allowing manufacturers to sell new PCs with Windows XP installed.
- iPods that never passed beta or focus groups, 09.13.
"What most Apple fans don't realize is that there were a few iPod variants that never made it out of beta testing and the focus group stage."
- More in the The Lite Side index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 17" MacBook Pro Core Duo, Apr. 2006 - The top-end MacBook Pro includes a 1680 x 1050, 2.16 GHz Core Duo CPU, and supports Apple 30" Cinema Display.
- Group of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Pismo WiFi Networking Issue Finally Solved?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.24.
It turns out the problems wasn't the Pismo, the Buffalo WiFi card, or Mac OS X 10.4. It was the Wireless G router - Linksys to the rescue!
- Mini VGA to S-video Adapter a No Go for eMacs, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 11.24.
You might think that Apple's Mini VGA S-video adapter is a cheap way to connect your eMac or G4 iMac to your TV. You would be wrong.
- Google Calendar with iPhone or iTouch Is Great for Scheduling, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.24.
Web-based Google Calendar allows access and updates from any computing platform, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and iPhone OS.
- Why Spaces is My Favorite Leopard (and Snow Leopard) Feature, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.23.
Spaces, a feature introduced with OS X 10.5, is like having several monitors on your Mac without the cost and space of using multiple displays.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20.
Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20.
Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20.
Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20.
Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best iPod nano Deals, 11.25.
Refurb 8 GB 4G nano, $99; new, $126; refurb 16 GB, $129; new, $150; new 5G/8 GB, $134.60; 16 GB, $161.12. Shipping included.
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals, 11.25.
System 6.0.8 floppies, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5, $20; 7.6 $13; 8.1, $11; 8.5, $20; 8.6, $90; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $30.
- Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.25.
Used 1 GHz Combo, $400; 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $449; 1.67 GHz hi-res, $600.
- Best G4 iMac Deals, 11.24.
Used 15" 700 MHz CD-RW, $150; 800 MHz Combo, $229; 1 GHz, $289; 17" 1.25 GHz, $200; 20" 1.25 GHz, $509.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, 11.24.
Used from $899; refurb from $1,099; new 1.6 GHz/120 HD, $1,150 after rebate; 1.8/64 SSD, $1,150 a/r; 1.86/128 SSD, $1,350 a/r; 2.13/128 SSD, $1,694 a/r.
- Best PowerBook G3 Deals, 11.24.
Used 233 MHz WallStreet, $75; 266 MHz, $160; 400 MHz Lombard, $199; 400 MHz Pismo, $289; 500 MHz, $350.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.23.
Used 867 MHz SuperDrive, $348; 1 GHz Combo, $379; SD, $519; 1.33 GHz, $529; 1.5 GHz Combo, $549; SuperDrive, $609.
- Best Mac Pro Deals, 11.23.
Used 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,300; 3.0 4-core. $1,919; refurb 2.66 4-core Nehalem, $2,149; 2.93, $2,549; 2.93 8-core, $4,999; new 2.26 8-core, $2,290.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 11.23.
Used 802.11g AirPort Extreme, $49; 500 GB Time Capsule, $150; new, $190; 1 TB dual-band, $280; 2 TB, $469; 802.11n AirPort Extreme, $170.
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
- 2005.08.03
Sometimes the headlines just write themselves.
According to an article at the Register, MS Website Trumpets 'Pyramid' Company, Microsoft has been featuring a case study about GoldQuest, a pyramid scheme company!
This, of course, is not Microsoft's fault. Companies that use Windows to generate funds through pyramid schemes do not have to tell Redmond what they are up to any more than purveyors of spyware, adware, viruses, Trojan horses, networks of zombie computers belching up personal information to Mafia lords, spammers, or anyone else has to. These things manifestly do not have anything to do with Microsoft per se, any more than . . . some other analogy that I was thinking of but forgot.
Any way, the point of this article (and I do have a point) is that Microsoft itself is a kind of pyramid scheme.
In your classic pyramid scheme, you sell something of limited value and tell the seller that they can make money by selling the same valueless thing to friends for the same price less a minor finder's fee. The "mark" is told that as more people join the pyramid, more money trickles down the pyramid to him through the finder's fees, eventually making him rich with very little effort.
In the Microsoft version, the "mark" (an IT guy) is told that if they use Windows, they'll be more compatible and more productive. Further, if they convince 10 users in their company to use Windows, then all the additional savings will be passed on to the IT department, which can hire more people to take care of the additional computers.
Managers further up the food chain know to get a budget proposal through the executive committee. They need to include a technology line estimating the costs of additional computers, data storage resources, etc. required to complete a project. The IT guys clue them into the savings they will have if they go single-platform across the company, and the managers buy into the pyramid.
CEOs and CIOs are told not only by the managers but by the IT staff as well how going single-platform (read: Windows) will save them money not only for a particular project, but for the budget of the company overall.
Funny thing is, no one ever writes a line item in a budget for the savings. No managers ever get additional resources for these savings, and somehow the IT staff always seems to soak up the savings without managing to cut staff, reduce expenses, or increase productivity.
Isn't that a pyramid scheme?
In a true pyramid scheme only the people in the first layer get really rich. And those would be . . . umm . . . lemme see . . . it wouldn't be the people actually using the computers, hmm . . . not the managers . . . not the CEO or CIO . . . hmm . . . it would have to be . . . . Microsoft!
Why is it, I wonder, that people always say, "They are making us all switch to Microsoft," and never, "We are all switching to Microsoft because we want to?"
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Video Cards
Email Lists
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Mac Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com
