by Thomas Wailgum

The Betting Man’s Guide to Tech’s Sure Things

News
Oct 6, 2010

What's more likely: You find reliable Wi-Fi at a conference or the real Kim Kardashian follows you on Twitter? We break down the odds of your everyday tech life, from the long shots to the sure bets.

Wi-Fi Fail at Conferences

At an IT conference, the odds that a conference hall or hotel’s wireless network will go down: Even. (Just ask Steve Jobs about his problematic WWDC 2010 presentation.)

Synergistic Relations

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Chances that a tech vendor CEO will say the word “synergy” when announcing a new partnership: 1 in 2. (Odds that she thinks it’ll actually save her company: 1 in 900.)

Who Cares About Cell Phones, Anyway?

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Odds that Microsoft’s $500 million investment in Windows 7 mobile will topple entrenched competition: 1 in 50,000. (Chances that Microsoft execs kick themselves daily for not buying RIM a long time ago: 1 in 3.)

(Really) Early Retirement

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A 41-year-old CIO at a Fortune 1000 suddenly “retires” while rumors swirl about a major IT meltdown. Odds that he’s actually “retiring to spend more time with family and/or on the golf course” (1 in 10,000); that he’ll ever work again in IT (1 in 3); that he’s secretly ecstatic to be free from “the grind” (Even).