The reports I've read about last week's Microsoft company meeting expressed horror and surprise that CEO Steve Ballmer would rip an iPhone out of an employee's hands, threaten to stomp it into tiny Apple pieces, and then periodically berate the employee during his speech.
At first, I figure Ballmer just wigged out and was truly outraged. Then I remembered a recent dinner with a guy who wrote these speeches for Steve for two years. Ballmer always wants to have an impact -- and will take chances to get one. My guess: This was planned all along. Ballmer has the last laugh.
We need more CEOs with spunk. Who is your most entertaining high-tech leader and why? Express your admiration by writing [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/14/2009 at 1:17 PM3 comments
Those of us who know at least a bit about software development have heard of CodePlex. This is a Web site built by Microsoft where programmers can share and post hunks of open source code.
Now CodePlex has evolved into a quasi-independent foundation where people can share and post open source code. The difference between the Web site and foundation, as I understand it, is the foundation offers more mechanisms to license and distribute the code. It's also a liaison between open source zealots and commercial software vendors.
So why is it only quasi-independent? Because its leader is Sam Ramji, who most recently served as director of platform strategy for Redmond.
Does Microsoft have credibility in open source? If not, what does it need to do? Send open and well-sourced responses to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/14/2009 at 1:17 PM1 comments
After Sophos recently voiced its concerns about XP Mode (which it said can leave Windows even more vulnerable to attacks) Joseph raised a few questions of his own:
While I can see why in some specialized circumstances XP Mode may be necessary, I think releasing it as a generally available add-on is a mistake. There are many questions I have regarding licensing especially around security software, such as whether the host AV will be able to protect the VM or if I'll need to pay for two separate AVs -- one for the host and one for the XP VM.
Also, what about updates? Does this mean MS will continue to issue patches for as long as the XP Mode add-on is available? And what kind of support will be available since we are now in the extended support phase of XP Pro, according to MS' lifecycle chart?
-Joseph
Analyst firm Directions on Microsoft likes Windows 7's business prospects, but Doug is still having a few issues with the new OS. Here are some of your thoughts:
As far as what Directions has to say about Windows 7, they are right on the ball. Windows 7 is fast, sleek and very stable -- what Vista should have been from the very beginning. I am currently running the RTM version that I downloaded from our Software Assurance site, and have it installed on three of my machines. I do not have any problems going into or coming out of sleep mode, everything works much faster, and the battery life on my laptop has gone from roughly four hours to about six! I believe that you are experiencing a bug in the RC release (I experienced the same problem with the RC), and my suggestion to you is move to the RTM ASAP.
As far as moving everyone in my company to Windows 7, I will possibly move some of my laptop users due to the benefits of better performance and battery life, but wait for our next hardware refresh and bring in Windows 7 with new machines as they come in. Moving 45 machines to Windows 7 is just too much work for this already over-worked IT manager!
-Asif
I am a technician that has to use IE 7 because of HP CSN and other software that won't work in IE 8 because it uses Java scripting, which IE 8 reports it doesn't support. Other than this one issue, I love Windows 7 RTM.
-Robert
Finally, is Hyper-V's price tag Microsoft's ace in the hole? Here's what a few of you had to say:
I run VMware vShpere Enterprise 4 on seven resonably large servers, quad-socket, quad-core with 128GB RAM per host. We have 85 guest servers mainly running Windows. It cost a large amount to purchase VMware for this setup which, if possible, we would like to avoid in the future.
I have done a very close look at Hyper-V's latest release versus VMware and found them to be significantly closer in features. Hyper-V has all the features of VMware Enterprise except for DRS and 8 virtual CPU support. It even has a portal feature which you would need to purchase to get in the VMware environment and, most of all, it's all free. My conclusion is that for 80 percent of businesses, Hyper-V is more than adequate now. I am going to find it very hard not to use Hyper-V on my next host purchase.
-Greg
Regarding your comment about the cost of 1TB of RAM on M$ Hyper-V...how's $119,000 sound? Or you could go non-OEM, like Kingston, and drop the price down to $73,000.
-Pete
Tell us what you think! Leave a comment below or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/11/2009 at 1:17 PM0 comments
Today is a special and somber day, the eighth anniversary of the despicable attacks against New York City and the Pentagon. I was at a computer show across from the CNN Center in Atlanta with 30,000 other folks when the news broke. Two days later, driving past New York on my way home, I was surrounded by the acrid metallic scent of what used to be two glorious buildings.
What does this have to with IT? Not much. It transcends IT and makes all other issues seem minor. What did you learn from 9/11? Tell us all by writing to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/11/2009 at 1:17 PM3 comments
It's nice sometimes to be validated. After researching two cover stories about Microsoft licensing, I decided that Microsoft made licensing hard on purpose. The more confused customers are, the more power Redmond sales reps have.
Now the esteemed analyst firm Directions on Microsoft agrees. In a recent article, the group (made up largely of ex-Microsoft execs) clearly believes Microsoft builds in this complexity as a negotiating tactic. The idea is IT gets so frustrated; it just pays the bill rather than unravel the tangle of terms and conditions.
There's help, and my two articles are a good place to start. My research started with Microsoft's own materials, which are largely unfathomable. Then I went to customers. But I didn't really start to get it until I talked with Scott Braden, in my opinion the No. 1 expert on Redmond licensing.
Here are a few links that can hopefully help:
Do you have any tips for negotiating with Microsoft or cases where you've been burned? Send both or either to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/11/2009 at 1:17 PM0 comments
The economic downturn wreaked havoc on banks, auto makers and millions of mom-and-pop operations. But Microsoft has come through relatively unscathed. Sure, its profits are down, but it still has plenty of them.
But that's not enough for Redmond. Microsoft wants to go back to the days of rising cash. Its plan? Continue to push search, get netbook customers to buy higher-end versions of Window 7, and successfully move to a subscription-based software model. Sounds like a plan to me.
Would you put a high-end version of Windows 7 on a tiny netbook, and what do you think of subscription licensing for software services? Answers can be sent to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/11/2009 at 1:17 PM4 comments
Microsoft's relationship with third parties is a bit like a high school romance, full of love, conflict and talking behind each others' backs. In the virtualization space, Microsoft is laying on the charm, trying to woo partners away from VMware. It ain't so pretty in security, an area that's been testy for years.
Now, I happen to be a fan of many of Microsoft's security initiatives; monthly patches, more secure software and a general openness all leave me impressed. But I also respect the third parties who are actually manning the trenches, doing battle with hackers and, increasingly, fighting Microsoft itself. Case in point: Microsoft and third-party bloggers are doing battle through some increasingly emotional blog postings.
Here's a rundown of the issues: Many vendors who discover Microsoft flaws feel they don't get enough credit and, often, not enough response. More specifically, Sophos believes that adding XP Mode to Windows 7 offers a whole new vector of attack, one that hackers understand well. As someone about to install this software, I plan to heed these words and rethink XP Mode.
Are you pleased with how Redmond handles security? Yeas and nays equally welcome at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/09/2009 at 1:17 PM2 comments
Every Patch Tuesday has the self-same theme: fighting remote code execution flaws. And that makes sense. If a hacker can access a network and run their own malicious software, they can officially call themselves a big-shot (feel free to replace the word "shot" with a more accurate term).
This month, Microsoft fixed a range of RCE problems. First, the JScript engine, which can be exploited through malicious Web pages, is repaired. So is a wireless LAN hole in Windows Server 2008 and Vista. Microsoft also offered a TCP/IP fix that can apply to certain Cisco gear, as well.
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/09/2009 at 1:17 PM0 comments
Many months ago, I spoke with storage and virtualization guru Jon Toigo about the IBM System z, otherwise known as a mainframe. This puppy isn't your father's mainframe; it runs on Power6 processors (a lot of them), the same basic chip that drove Macs for years. The latest System z was touted as being able to operate up to 1,500 virtual machines, so for those seeking green datacenters, that mainframe is pretty darn compelling.
The only problem was IBM didn't announce support for Windows servers. Toigo, though, told me these machines could, in fact, be made to run Windows.
I didn't think about this conversation 'til yesterday, when I read our report on Windows mainframes. While IBM and Microsoft still don't officially support Windows on mainframes, there are a couple of apparently solid emulation tools that let you do just that. However, not being native, these solutions are a bit of a compromise.
Has the role of the mainframe in your shop changed? If so, how? E-mail your answers to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/09/2009 at 1:17 PM0 comments
Recently, I've been asking Redmond Report readers to e-mail me about Bing (I'll be in touch soon, I promise).
Now I need more help. Do you use any of Microsoft's enterprise search products, or Google's enterprise search? If so, shoot me an e-mail and tell me what you like and don't like. I'm at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/09/2009 at 1:17 PM1 comments
Last week, Kurt (blogging in Doug's stead) wrote about Dell and HP jumping to Microsoft's defense in the Word patent case, claiming that as partners, the ruling would hurt their sales, too. Would PC sales really plunge without Word? Here are some of your thoughts:
You asked if people would buy a new PC without Word on it. My one-word answer is "Yes." Word processing is just one small part of what I would use a computer for. As you said, OpenOffice is a great option; the price is right and there would be virtually no learning curve. And if we are going that way, might as well go with its spreadsheet and presentation tool, as well. I think most people would be able to absorb any hiccups caused if MS is forced to stop selling Word (though I am sure Microsoft would feel the hit). People don't really care HOW their document gets created, as long as they can create it without a lot of effort, and as long as the person they send it to can open and read it.
As for the second part of your question about whether manufacturers are really facing hardships, probably not -- but they will they figure out a way to stick it to the customers! I am old enough to remember when ATMs were free. At first, banks thought they were great because they didn't have to hire another employee to work the drive-up window. But then they said, "Wait a minute. This is a convenience to the customer, and although it is saving us money, I'll bet we could get them to pay us for this convenience." And sure enough, we do. So I am sure that PC manufactures will figure out a way to get us to pay them for not giving us something (such as MS Office).
-James
I heard a rumour that OpenOffice contains the same infractions that Word contain with regards to .XML. Loading OpenOffice might not be a solution. This also brings up the question of who you take on if an open source package contains someone else's IP.
-Greg
I've got to agree with MS, Dell and HP on this one. Since, for better or worse, I use MS Office at home for a myriad of tasks (not to mention being compatible with work), I can't imagine buying a computer if I couldn't get Word on it (either by OEM or by buying off-the-shelf). Only those who just do e-mail and/or browse the Web with their computers wouldn't be affected by this decision. But some of us actually use our computers to get things done!
-Ron
Should the AP and other news outlets charge online news aggregators for content they use? Here's what some of you had to say about the great content debate:
I think the portals (Google, MSN, Yahoo, AOL, etc.) have the "Wal-Mart effect" on many newspapers. In much the same way that many people believe that a Wal Mart or other large retailer will eventually eliminate smaller stores, I feel that the news aggregators will eliminate a lot of the specialty newspapers in an area because of cost and convenience factors. I recently cut back my subscription to my local paper from a daily delivery to weekends only. I found that during the week I was too busy to sit down with the newspaper, but I could quickly scan the homepage of a news portal and see the most relevant information. I still enjoy reading the newspaper but the convenience of one-stop shopping for news -- where I can scan the headlines and then drill down into the important pieces as opposed to having to scan the front page of several sections of the newspaper -- made me decide that I should save trees, save my money, and not take a daily paper.
I believe that large newspapers that generate their own content and have a lot more feature and in-depth articles will fare better, but I am not sure that their time is not coming to an end, as well. The only real question for me around the AP is what the news portals will do without them. I can understand Google wanting their news for free, but if nobody is paid to write the articles, then the only thing that Google will be able to aggregate will be blogs and opinion pieces. Of course, there will be that problem with determining if the person doing the writing has checked their facts and if there is any bias, but the information will be free (if not correct).
-Scott
When all the traditional media go away, from where will Google and all the "free content" providers aggregate?
-Jeff
What about content quality? What about the costs the AP and newspapers incur to get the stories in the first place? If we don't protect both, then what good are Google and other aggregators for news? Eventually, there will be so few to aggregate that aggregation will be a moot point.
Google and other aggregators should pay up, in my opinion. They are profiting from having access to content for which they paid little to nothing. The "free system" is a flawed one. Just because we can have such a system, does not automatically mean we should.
-Jason
Newspapers better wake up. The real reason that people aren't buying newspapers, myself included, is that they are sick of the biased liberal coverage including what comes from the AP.
-Anonymous
And after Microsoft announced that some Hotmail accounts have been "hijacked" by hackers, Doug asked readers for their worst hacker stories. Here's a doozy:
Someone stole my contact list and my password. Then they changed my password so I could not acess my own e-mail. Then they sent an e-mail to ALL my contacts with a story that I was in England at a seminar and that I had lost my wallet. They asked my contacts to send $2,500 to an address there.
Result: I dropped Hotmail and picked up Yahoo with a new password.
-Anonymous
Tell us what you think! Leave a comment below or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/02/2009 at 1:17 PM0 comments
Every year VMware holds its VMworld show, and for the past few it has drawn in excess of 10,000 people. I was there last year and it made Tech-Ed seem small in comparison. This year VMware didn't make a lot of hot announcements. Instead, it reiterated its wish to own the cloud market, both real external clouds and internal enterprise clouds.
VMware has a strong technical set of offerings here based on years of virtualization expertise. My only concern is that it's a closed, proprietary set of offerings. My inside sources say that it may take years for VMware to open up to other technologies such as Hyper-V. Meanwhile, Microsoft is bending over backwards to woo third parties.
I'm not nearly as smart as VMware CEO Paul Maritz, but I do know that for something as sweeping as cloud computing, IT wants choice and for things to be heterogeneous. Tell me where I'm wrong at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 09/02/2009 at 1:17 PM1 comments