Then there's the problem of ownership. Imagine this: you rent this
computer. You use it for games, sure, but everything else too: email,
content creation, online banking, etc. But times are hard; you've lost
your job, money is tight. You can't afford the monthly subscription
anymore. NZXT can seize your computer -- and all the data on your >hard-drives. Are you comfortable with that idea?
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
In some ways, this is a more COMPREHENSIBLE plan than Logitech's silly "forever mouse" idea (or HP's subscription ink service). Computers --especially gaming PCs-- can require a significant outlay of cash at
the start, and if you've only limited savings then I can see the
appeal of paying a little per month instead of handing over a huge wad
of cash all at once.
[I don't agree it's a good idea, but I can see the appeal to some]
But just off the top of my head I see several problems with this plan.
Most notably, for what you're paying, you aren't really getting that
good of a machine. Their highest-end option would cost you over $4000
USD, and all you get is an i7-13700 CPU, a GeForce 4070, and 32GB of
RAM. That's not a /bad/ computer at all (it's pretty close to what I'm
using right now) but it's /waaaaaay/ over-priced for what you get.
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
On Sat, 3 Aug 2024 17:24:30 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 8/3/2024 10:20 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
Most notably, for what you're paying, you aren't really getting that
good of a machine. Their highest-end option would cost you over $4000
USD, and all you get is an i7-13700 CPU, a GeForce 4070, and 32GB of
RAM. That's not a /bad/ computer at all (it's pretty close to what I'm
using right now) but it's /waaaaaay/ over-priced for what you get.
Uh, wait a minute. You have to _buy_ the computer and THEN pay a
monthly fee to keep it?
Why would I go for that when I can just buy the computer for less?
No. There is an initial shipping fee (I believe $50USD) followed by a
monthly rental (subscription) fee. In two years, you get a 'free'
upgrade to a better PC.
However, at $169 USD per month over 24 months (2 years) that comes to
$4,056. Which is incredibly overpriced for what you're receiving.
Of course, you /could/ 'cancel any time', so I guess if all you want
to do is play around with a moderately high-end gaming PC for a month
or two, the cost ($400) might be worth it. Except in the end you have
to return the computer and you're left with nothing. So maybe not.
I just don't see the Venn diagram of "people who can't afford a $2000
for a new gaming PC but somehow can still afford to spend $170/month"
being all that large.
Although maybe NZXT is betting on 'people who are stupid with their
money, only look at monthly costs and don't calculate how much it will
cost over the course of a year'. There's a lot of those sort around.
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
On Sat, 03 Aug 2024 13:20:47 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
Then there's the problem of ownership. Imagine this: you rent this
computer. You use it for games, sure, but everything else too: email,
content creation, online banking, etc. But times are hard; you've lost
your job, money is tight. You can't afford the monthly subscription
anymore. NZXT can seize your computer -- and all the data on your
hard-drives. Are you comfortable with that idea?
Why would they seize it? It says month to month, cancel any time. If someone couldn't afford it why wouldn't they back up or delete their
shit and send it in?
Overall I don't see this is much different than other computer rental
scams (I mean offerings) that are designed for people with fucked up
credit who can't qualify to finance one and are bad at math.
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
On 8/3/2024 10:20 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Another article about this: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/tech-ceo-says-people-will- enjoy-paying-a-monthly-fee-to-use-a-mouse-you-re-going-to-really-love- that/ar-BB1qZ08g? ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=7fc0c40356624d89ba26db05334c3480&ei=44
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
Tech CEO says people will enjoy paying a monthly fee to use a mouse. ‘You’re going to really love that.’
"Logitech’s new CEO has grand ideas for the computer hardware company,
and one of them is a “forever mouse” that you’d never have to replace but that you may have to pay for every month.
The CEO, Hanneke Faber, told the Verge’s Decoder podcast that the
immortal mouse is still just a concept, but that one day Logitech could create a mouse that, like a nice watch, is useful in perpetuity—with the help of software updates.
“I’m not planning to throw that watch away ever,” Faber said. “So why would I be throwing my mouse or my keyboard away if it’s a fantastic quality, well designed, software enabled mouse.”
Faber noted that Logitech was not “necessarily super far away” from making the forever mouse a reality, but added that the high price of its extreme durability may require the company to add a subscription model
to help make it profitable.
The average price of a mouse or a keyboard is about $26, Faber said, and Logitech has the opportunity to create a higher priced, premium product
that delivers more quality. While Faber acknowledged that consumers may
be shocked by the concept of a subscription mouse, she said the quality
is worth it.
“Imagine it’s like your Rolex. You’re going to really love that,” she told the Verge.
Logitech did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
The hardware company is no stranger to bold mouse ideas. In April it announced a mouse with a built-in AI button that could be used to launch
an AI prompt builder to help summarize text or write emails.
Faber’s mouse-as-a-service concept is the latest example of the
increasing prevalence of subscription-based business models in unusual categories. While customers may be used to paying a subscription for
movie or music streaming, now hardware companies are trying to get in on
the trend.
HP introduced a subscription service in February that lets customers
print 20 pages on their included printer and ink starting at $6.99 per
month. Both Ring and Google have also recently raised prices for basic subscription plans for their smart doorbells and thermostats, respectively.
Some customers have already decried Logitech’s idea of adding yet
another subscription for an everyday object. One user on Twitter said
there is no need for a “forever mouse,” because their mouse from 30
years ago has held up just fine.
Other social media users on the r/hardware forum on Reddit poked fun at
the idea that Logitech might go the way of HP’s printer plan and limit use.
“[N]umber of mouse movement[s] exceeded. [P]lease upgrade to pro account
so you can further move your mouse,” one user wrote."
Another article about this: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/tech-ceo-says-people-will-enjoy-paying-a-monthly-fee-to-use-a-mouse-you-re-going-to-really-love-that/ar-BB1qZ08g?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=7fc0c40356624d89ba26db05334c3480&ei=44That comes from a company which shut down an entire device series
Tech CEO says people will enjoy paying a monthly fee to use a mouse. ‘You’re going to really love that.’
Is one of the qualifications of being a CEO that you are completely
clueless about your own market?
Am 06.08.24 um 10:56 schrieb JAB:
Is one of the qualifications of being a CEO that you are completely
clueless about your own market?
She is probably or very likely an MBA who got a shot at being a CEO
without having any clue about the products they are selling! But she
probably can sell herself really well, by convincing clueless people
that she is the right woman for a high paying job. This looks more like another nail into the coffin of Logitech!
Not sure why she was chosen, only the Logitech Board of directors can
explain that. But generally european companies after the founders retire (tech companies always are founded by engineers) MBAs, clueless Bankers
and laywers take over on the board of directors and CEO level and even
in second management often coming from consulting firms and crossing
over straight at that level, usually this is the beginning of the end
and once this has been ongoing long enough the company goes down.
Engineers in Europe unless they run their own company usually hit a
glass ceiling at middle management max where they cannot move higher!
While often MBAs and Laywers start at that level where the engineering
ends! Thats also one of the main reasons why europe has been falling
wayside technically compared to the US and other regions!
The prime example was Nokia of old which in the end was run by Laywers
and MBAs
who did not have any clue on how far reaching the impact of the iPhone was.
The lower engineering levels tried to steer the ship into the right
direction but the board of directors chose to hire a Microsoft MBA CEO
which already people thought upfront was a juggernout to break the
mobile division away and sell it off to M$. It came es expected, the
first move from the CEO was to break all bridges which could work to
steer Nokia entirely to the Windows Mobile division of Microsoft and
later sell it off.
On 8/4/2024 8:25 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
On Sat, 3 Aug 2024 17:24:30 -0700, Dimensional TravelerEnough that stores lower prices by one cent ($5.99 instead of $6.00)
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 8/3/2024 10:20 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT >>>> (they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
Most notably, for what you're paying, you aren't really getting that
good of a machine. Their highest-end option would cost you over $4000
USD, and all you get is an i7-13700 CPU, a GeForce 4070, and 32GB of
RAM. That's not a /bad/ computer at all (it's pretty close to what I'm >>>> using right now) but it's /waaaaaay/ over-priced for what you get.
Uh, wait a minute. You have to _buy_ the computer and THEN pay a
monthly fee to keep it?
Why would I go for that when I can just buy the computer for less?
No. There is an initial shipping fee (I believe $50USD) followed by a
monthly rental (subscription) fee. In two years, you get a 'free'
upgrade to a better PC.
However, at $169 USD per month over 24 months (2 years) that comes to
$4,056. Which is incredibly overpriced for what you're receiving.
Of course, you /could/ 'cancel any time', so I guess if all you want
to do is play around with a moderately high-end gaming PC for a month
or two, the cost ($400) might be worth it. Except in the end you have
to return the computer and you're left with nothing. So maybe not.
I just don't see the Venn diagram of "people who can't afford a $2000
for a new gaming PC but somehow can still afford to spend $170/month"
being all that large.
Although maybe NZXT is betting on 'people who are stupid with their
money, only look at monthly costs and don't calculate how much it will
cost over the course of a year'. There's a lot of those sort around.
because it has been found that doing so DOES increase sales.
On 8/4/2024 8:25 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
On Sat, 3 Aug 2024 17:24:30 -0700, Dimensional TravelerEnough that stores lower prices by one cent ($5.99 instead of $6.00)
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 8/3/2024 10:20 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT >>>> (they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
Most notably, for what you're paying, you aren't really getting that
good of a machine. Their highest-end option would cost you over $4000
USD, and all you get is an i7-13700 CPU, a GeForce 4070, and 32GB of
RAM. That's not a /bad/ computer at all (it's pretty close to what I'm >>>> using right now) but it's /waaaaaay/ over-priced for what you get.
Uh, wait a minute. You have to _buy_ the computer and THEN pay a
monthly fee to keep it?
Why would I go for that when I can just buy the computer for less?
No. There is an initial shipping fee (I believe $50USD) followed by a
monthly rental (subscription) fee. In two years, you get a 'free'
upgrade to a better PC.
However, at $169 USD per month over 24 months (2 years) that comes to
$4,056. Which is incredibly overpriced for what you're receiving.
Of course, you /could/ 'cancel any time', so I guess if all you want
to do is play around with a moderately high-end gaming PC for a month
or two, the cost ($400) might be worth it. Except in the end you have
to return the computer and you're left with nothing. So maybe not.
I just don't see the Venn diagram of "people who can't afford a $2000
for a new gaming PC but somehow can still afford to spend $170/month"
being all that large.
Although maybe NZXT is betting on 'people who are stupid with their
money, only look at monthly costs and don't calculate how much it will
cost over the course of a year'. There's a lot of those sort around.
because it has been found that doing so DOES increase sales.
On Sun, 04 Aug 2024 08:15:57 -0400, Xocyll <Xocyll@gmx.com> wrote:
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> looked up from reading the >>entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs
say:
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT >>>(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per >>>month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Not really anything new, it's been around for decades as "rent to own."
Had a friend who did this, you end up with a substandard computer that
you paid about 3x it's value for.
But for people who don't have a few thousand to buy a new one with...
But NZXT isn't offering a lease-to-own option. It's just pay-pay-pay
and miss-a-payment-and-no-PC-for-you. In fact, the subscription
agreement is quite clear on this topic: "This subscription is not a >rent-to-own program. At no point will Subscriber own the Rental
Devices... even if Subscriber payments aggregate to more than the
collective retail price for all services."
Rent-to-own at least gives you an option to buy the computer; it's not
much different from buying a PC on installments. Financially, it's
still a bad idea for the consumer as you always end up paying more,
but I get it; it can be hard to make that initial bulk payment, and
with some items, it's absolutely necessary you get the goods NOW
rather than wait until you've saved up.
[I wouldn't count gaming PCs in this category though.
You're much better off just putting your own money aside
for a few months or years. If you really need a PC in the
meantime, buy a $400 laptop (two months of FLEX payments),
and then save up your 'real' PC]
But you dont' get that option with NZXT Flex. You just get to keep
paying and have nothing for it at the end.
Still, I /could/ see NZXT Flex working... just not at the prices
they're offering. Certainly not when their real competition is online >streaming for a fraction of the cost.
It's a bad deal all around. For the end-user, anyway.
On 06/08/2024 01:48, Dimensional Traveler wrote:
On 8/3/2024 10:20 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
Another article about this:
So, this idea has a little more meat to it. Computer manufacturer NZXT
(they make boutique gaming PCs) wants to make PCs with a subscription
(or perhaps rental) fee. Prices range from roughly $50 to $170USD per
month (plus initial shipping costs), depending on what sort of
computer you get. NZXT also promises "seamless upgrades" every two
years and 24/7 support
Read about it here: https://nzxt.com/collection/flex
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/tech-ceo-says-people-will-
enjoy-paying-a-monthly-fee-to-use-a-mouse-you-re-going-to-really-love-
that/ar-BB1qZ08g?
ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=7fc0c40356624d89ba26db05334c3480&ei=44
Tech CEO says people will enjoy paying a monthly fee to use a mouse.
Youre going to really love that.
"Logitechs new CEO has grand ideas for the computer hardware company,
and one of them is a forever mouse that youd never have to replace
but that you may have to pay for every month.
The CEO, Hanneke Faber, told the Verges Decoder podcast that the
immortal mouse is still just a concept, but that one day Logitech could
create a mouse that, like a nice watch, is useful in perpetuitywith the
help of software updates.
Im not planning to throw that watch away ever, Faber said. So why
would I be throwing my mouse or my keyboard away if its a fantastic
quality, well designed, software enabled mouse.
Faber noted that Logitech was not necessarily super far away from
making the forever mouse a reality, but added that the high price of its
extreme durability may require the company to add a subscription model
to help make it profitable.
The average price of a mouse or a keyboard is about $26, Faber said, and
Logitech has the opportunity to create a higher priced, premium product
that delivers more quality. While Faber acknowledged that consumers may
be shocked by the concept of a subscription mouse, she said the quality
is worth it.
Imagine its like your Rolex. Youre going to really love that, she
told the Verge.
Logitech did not immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment.
The hardware company is no stranger to bold mouse ideas. In April it
announced a mouse with a built-in AI button that could be used to launch
an AI prompt builder to help summarize text or write emails.
Fabers mouse-as-a-service concept is the latest example of the
increasing prevalence of subscription-based business models in unusual
categories. While customers may be used to paying a subscription for
movie or music streaming, now hardware companies are trying to get in on
the trend.
HP introduced a subscription service in February that lets customers
print 20 pages on their included printer and ink starting at $6.99 per
month. Both Ring and Google have also recently raised prices for basic
subscription plans for their smart doorbells and thermostats, respectively. >>
Some customers have already decried Logitechs idea of adding yet
another subscription for an everyday object. One user on Twitter said
there is no need for a forever mouse, because their mouse from 30
years ago has held up just fine.
Other social media users on the r/hardware forum on Reddit poked fun at
the idea that Logitech might go the way of HPs printer plan and limit use. >>
[N]umber of mouse movement[s] exceeded. [P]lease upgrade to pro account
so you can further move your mouse, one user wrote."
What an absolute bunch of twaddle even by CEO standards, it's hard to
know where to start with this one so let's start with the cost. My last
much cost me about 20p a month for it's fifteen year life and the basic >functions still worked but the DPI buttons just got a bit sticky. Now
I'm guessing that the subscription is going to be more than 20p a month.
Next up, software updates. The main benefit of my current mouse over my
old one (both MX518's) is the hero version has a more response sensor.
I'd like to see how a software update would achieve that.
Finally (I'm not even going to start on the AI button), the comparison
to a Rolex watch. What stupidity is this, I have what would be
considered a premium watch and it's not because it's tells the time
better, or even keeps it better, than one I could have bought that would
cost me less than a new strap for mine does. It's because I like the
look of it so it's more than just something that tells the time. Rolex
goes even further in that it's considered a status symbol, is the mouse
you use ever going to be considered that. What are they going to do, set
some diamonds in it just to impress people?
Is one of the qualifications of being a CEO that you are completely
clueless about your own market?
On 06/08/2024 17:03, Werner P. wrote:
Am 06.08.24 um 10:56 schrieb JAB:
Is one of the qualifications of being a CEO that you are completely
clueless about your own market?
She is probably or very likely an MBA who got a shot at being a CEO
without having any clue about the products they are selling! But she
probably can sell herself really well, by convincing clueless people
that she is the right woman for a high paying job. This looks more
like another nail into the coffin of Logitech!
Not sure why she was chosen, only the Logitech Board of directors can
explain that. But generally european companies after the founders retire
(tech companies always are founded by engineers) MBAs, clueless
Bankers and laywers take over on the board of directors and CEO level
and even in second management often coming from consulting firms and
crossing over straight at that level, usually this is the beginning of
the end and once this has been ongoing long enough the company goes down.
Engineers in Europe unless they run their own company usually hit a
glass ceiling at middle management max where they cannot move higher!
While often MBAs and Laywers start at that level where the engineering
ends! Thats also one of the main reasons why europe has been falling
wayside technically compared to the US and other regions!
The prime example was Nokia of old which in the end was run by Laywers
and MBAs
who did not have any clue on how far reaching the impact of the iPhone
was.
The lower engineering levels tried to steer the ship into the right
direction but the board of directors chose to hire a Microsoft MBA CEO
which already people thought upfront was a juggernout to break the
mobile division away and sell it off to M$. It came es expected, the
first move from the CEO was to break all bridges which could work to
steer Nokia entirely to the Windows Mobile division of Microsoft and
later sell it off.
I certainly saw a lot of that as time progressed over the years. So we started with the senior engineer of the team running the project and
then we moved to something I think was a good idea of having a project manager who was there there to put timescales together, get estimates,
track progress etc. but they weren't the one who made the decisions of
how the project was run. It stated to go down hill when project
management expanded it's scoped into actually directing the project and
the advent of department heads with no background in engineering or even worse the failed engineer.
Two ones that I particularly remember were that all engineers in the
company (so several hundred of varying disciplines) would be classified
and graded so when it can to setting up a project you would be given a
pool of engineers as a resource. Fortunately only lip service was paid
to it as it was completely unworkable. Whoever dreamt that idea up had
no idea about domain knowledge and how important it is to developing
products - a line encrypter and a Typhoon simulator, basically the same
thing surely? Another was when the project was going badly, which
apparently had nothing to do with how it was run but instead it was all
the engineers fault, the madcap idea was that a start of the week each
person would be given a set number of tasks/hours and they could only
work on them. It was pointed out that this just doesn't work for a development environment but was rolled out a different site anyway.
After a month or so it was then quietly dropped.
Did I say two I meant three and this is a classic case of I read a book
so this will work. To try and have a more dynamic/flexible workforce
they looked at what Google did and decided that the office should be
painted in different bright colours, I kid you not. We said maybe having coffee and tea making facilities would be a better use of the money!
On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 08:11:26 +0100, JAB <noway@nochance.com> wrote:
On 06/08/2024 17:03, Werner P. wrote:
Am 06.08.24 um 10:56 schrieb JAB:
Is one of the qualifications of being a CEO that you are completely
clueless about your own market?
She is probably or very likely an MBA who got a shot at being a CEO
without having any clue about the products they are selling! But she
probably can sell herself really well, by convincing clueless people
that she is the right woman for a high paying job. This looks more like
another nail into the coffin of Logitech!
Not sure why she was chosen, only the Logitech Board of directors can
explain that. But generally european companies after the founders retire >>> (tech companies always are founded by engineers) MBAs, clueless Bankers
and laywers take over on the board of directors and CEO level and even
in second management often coming from consulting firms and crossing
over straight at that level, usually this is the beginning of the end
and once this has been ongoing long enough the company goes down.
Engineers in Europe unless they run their own company usually hit a
glass ceiling at middle management max where they cannot move higher!
While often MBAs and Laywers start at that level where the engineering
ends! Thats also one of the main reasons why europe has been falling
wayside technically compared to the US and other regions!
The prime example was Nokia of old which in the end was run by Laywers
and MBAs
who did not have any clue on how far reaching the impact of the iPhone was. >>>
The lower engineering levels tried to steer the ship into the right
direction but the board of directors chose to hire a Microsoft MBA CEO
which already people thought upfront was a juggernout to break the
mobile division away and sell it off to M$. It came es expected, the
first move from the CEO was to break all bridges which could work to
steer Nokia entirely to the Windows Mobile division of Microsoft and
later sell it off.
I certainly saw a lot of that as time progressed over the years. So we >>started with the senior engineer of the team running the project and
then we moved to something I think was a good idea of having a project >>manager who was there there to put timescales together, get estimates, >>track progress etc. but they weren't the one who made the decisions of
how the project was run. It stated to go down hill when project
management expanded it's scoped into actually directing the project and
the advent of department heads with no background in engineering or even >>worse the failed engineer.
Two ones that I particularly remember were that all engineers in the >>company (so several hundred of varying disciplines) would be classified
and graded so when it can to setting up a project you would be given a
pool of engineers as a resource. Fortunately only lip service was paid
to it as it was completely unworkable. Whoever dreamt that idea up had
no idea about domain knowledge and how important it is to developing >>products - a line encrypter and a Typhoon simulator, basically the same >>thing surely? Another was when the project was going badly, which >>apparently had nothing to do with how it was run but instead it was all
the engineers fault, the madcap idea was that a start of the week each >>person would be given a set number of tasks/hours and they could only
work on them. It was pointed out that this just doesn't work for a >>development environment but was rolled out a different site anyway.
After a month or so it was then quietly dropped.
Did I say two I meant three and this is a classic case of I read a book
so this will work. To try and have a more dynamic/flexible workforce
they looked at what Google did and decided that the office should be >>painted in different bright colours, I kid you not. We said maybe having >>coffee and tea making facilities would be a better use of the money!
I think anyone who's ever worked in any business of size has
experienced this.
It's not that all top-level execs are clueless. I've worked at some
places where the execs knew their stuff; they knew the product, knew
they clients, knew the process to get the one from the other. Often,
this was because they had helped nuture the company from the start,
but in some instances they were a hire who arrived long after the
company was established and did the work to understand. I didn't
always agree with their decisions, but they never came off as
completely clueless.
And then there are the other types. The many bad apples who ruin it
for the few. The ones who look at everything as if it were a
spreadsheet and try to min-max their scores. The ones who ignore what
the experienced, 'lower tier' workers say. The ones who have an idea
of what the business SHOULD be and will try to force it into that configuaration, whether it's a good idea or not or possible or not.
Unfortunately, modern capitalism too often rewards this latter group,
because immediate gains are more impressive than long-term stability.
"Look, I saved the company five million dollars by firing all our
experienced personnel and replacing them with fresh-faced temps! So
what if the product now bursts into flame and our customers are
abandonning us in droves! That's a problem for the NEXT guy!"
Even more than the general abuse heaped upon employees -the overwork,
the shortchanging, the general neglect- it was this STUPIDITY that
drove me nuts. How could it not? I (and my co-workers) would pour so
much effort into a product or business and then we'd watch some self-important MBA destroy the company. Sure, their antics sometimes
meant I ended up with more cash in my pocket, but at a cost to the
company, the other employees and the customers. Those extra cash in my
pocket was never the salve you might expect. I'd much rather a smaller paycheck knowing the company is on good footing rather than chasing
after some bonus that came at the expense of common sense. I've _left_
good jobs because of nonsense like that (but I'm lucky that I could
afford to do that. Not everyone has that option).
But... video-games, video-games. How to make this relate to
video-games?
There have been a lot of business-management sims, but most of them
play it straight. I wonder if there's ever been an vulture capitalist work-place simulator video game. "Buy companies and strip them off
their assets for your own gain!"
I can't think of any... but it probably exists. There are workplace
sims for every profession nowadays.
On Sun, 11 Aug 2024 05:30:06 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 16:15 this Wednesday (GMT):
There have been a lot of business-management sims, but most of them
play it straight. I wonder if there's ever been an vulture capitalist
work-place simulator video game. "Buy companies and strip them off
their assets for your own gain!"
I can't think of any... but it probably exists. There are workplace
sims for every profession nowadays.
I kinda feel like Cookie Clicker is sorta like that?
Maybe Universal Paperclips* is a better clicker example, since the
mid-game goal is to brainwash all your employees (and customers) and
turn them into more paperclips? Can't be more of an asset-strip than
that! ;-)
-----------------
* I love this game, even if it /is/ just a 'clicker'. Play it here: https://www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/index2.html
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 483 |
| Nodes: | 16 (2 / 14) |
| Uptime: | 188:50:19 |
| Calls: | 9,600 |
| Calls today: | 1 |
| Files: | 13,679 |
| Messages: | 6,151,608 |