Cisco owns the networking space as completely as Microsoft owns the desktop.
Microsoft gained its control by relentlessly writing code and competing with
a fierceness that would make George Steinbrenner proud.
Cisco has built its share of great products, but much of its growth is from
an unrivaled string of acquisitions (it is a master at integrating companies).
But eventually the desktop and network worlds will collide and Microsoft and
Cisco will really be put to the test.
Last week Cisco edged closer to Microsoft territory with the $830
million purchase of IronPort, a maker of anti-virus and anti-spam tools.
On the flip side, Microsoft violated Cisco territory through its unified communications
strategy, where Microsoft partnered with Nortel, rather than Cisco. So far,
the gloves are on, but I can see this turning bare-knuckle real fast!
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/08/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
I respect what open source zealots such as the Free Software Foundation have
done. But
its
new Web site badvista.org is a cheap shot, and an easy one at that.
One mission of the site is to compel the press to tell users to look at open
source alternatives to Vista, not just promote the Mac.
I'd love to do that, but on the client, the open source movement has a lot
of work to do. These distros just aren't ready for the mass market, and I've
long believed that vendors such as Novell and RedHat aren't
even trying.
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/03/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
Hate your boss, don't make enough scratch to keep your Yugo running (that's
a lot of scratch) or just want a new batch of potential office dates? Well,
bucko, now could be a good time.
A
survey of CIOs from Consultancy Robert Half Technology shows that 16 percent
plan on increasing hiring. Time to get those resumes and references in order,
mate!
And what skill is in most demand? Managing Windows!
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/03/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
Every time Microsoft talked about putting its operating systems in cars or at
the center of our home entertainment systems, I'd scoff, knowing the only thing
that crashed more than Windows was Nascar's Bodine brothers (two points if you
know their first names!).
Now Redmond is prepping a
deal to put Windows in new Ford cars, letting drivers check e-mail (please
pull over to do this!), navigate or Web surf.
Despite my earlier skepticism, I'm ready to give Microsoft the benefit of the
doubt (though I still don't want Windows operating my brakes!).
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/03/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
Redmond magazine columnist Greg Shields got this tip from faithful reader
Travis: "We've been having problems with our ACT conference bridge that've
started with the installation of Vista/Office 2007. When Outlook 2007 receives
a new message, the 'new message' sound apparently is the exact same sound as
some of the touchtone sounds on the phone. For us, it causes the conference
bridge to temporarily pause the conference and start reading off the long list
of commands. This has happened multiple times. We've also seen problems where
the Windows startup sound causes the conference bridge to completely shut down.
There must be some similarity between the new Vista/Office sounds and the tones
a telephone uses!"
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/03/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
I spent a few solid weeks talking to over a dozen customers about Visual Studio,
and then reported these findings to Microsoft. The VS product managers were
all ears. In the developer space, I found a healthy and active dialogue between
customers and Redmond.
The same now seems true for Windows clients, as Microsoft
is asking beta testers for advice on the next version of Windows. Now that's
how you build software!
The two-part story will be up on http://reddevnews.com
soon!
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/02/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
The report read like the hundreds I've read about XP: There is a flaw that
could let a hacker take complete control of your machine (I'm envious as I've
never had complete control of any of my machines).
The "stop the presses" news is that the
flaw is within Vista, the supposedly bullet-proof new OS.
The press would have you believe that Microsoft completely messed up, that
Vista can't be trusted and that the sky is indeed falling.
One flaw does not a disaster make, and it's too early to tell just how secure
Vista will be. If you have any thoughts, send 'em our way at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/02/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
I consider Ray Ozzie to be the next Bill Gates since Ray will ultimately drive
software strategy for Microsoft. Pollsters at Zogby have
a
different view -- to them, the next Bill Gates is the man or woman that
drives the next generation of technology. And that person doesn't wave the stars
and stripes, most Americans believe. Instead, the next Bill G. will hail from
Asia, either Japan or China, or perhaps India.
But Zogby didn't call up hundreds of Americans just to ask about Gates. While
interrupting all these dinners, Zobgy also found that Americans believe that
kids know more about the Internet than congressmen -- though Sen. Ted Stevens
from Alaska did nail it when he defined the 'Net as a series of tubes. That
was as insightful as George W. talking about "The Google."
Posted by Doug Barney on 01/02/2007 at 1:15 PM0 comments
I've suddenly become very interested in
Visual
Studio, not because I have the ambition (or skill) to build the next killer
app, but because we just launched a new magazine for corporate developers,
Redmond
Developer News.
For those who keep count, that's Redmond's third magazine launch in a smidge
more than two years. First was Redmond magazine itself, then less than a year
later Redmond Channel Partner,
and last month we put out the first issue of Redmond Developer News.
This trio does two things: It takes up a lot of my time, so forgive grammatical
errors and the many logical inconsistencies in this here newsletter (better
to blame it on lack of time than lack of skill).
On the positive side, this lets us see more of the market and make connections
between different segments. And that's how I became fascinated with Visual Studio.
It drives much of how our computers look, act and function in years to come.
After 31 years as a developer-oriented company, the service pack (SP1) for
Visual Studio 2005 ain't (there go those grammatical errors again!) quite the
breakthrough that was Altair Basic, but for folks that live inside Visual Studio,
it's a fairly big deal.
I've been communicating with a lot of Visual Studio folks lately, so when Microsoft
says the service pack was driven by customer feedback, I buy it hook, line and
sinker.
A lot of user problems have to do with performance, and VS SP1, partly through
dual core support, tackles this problem. There's also a whole, big wad of bug
fixes. Woohoo!
Next up is a service pack specifically aimed at Vista development.
Posted by Doug Barney on 12/20/2006 at 1:15 PM0 comments
A bundle of 64-bit tools based around Longhorn for midsize businesses
is
in beta. When complete, the pack will boast SQL Server, Exchange, ISA Server,
with management chores taken care of by System Center Essentials. Microsoft
hopes this bundle, codenamed Centro, will be easier to install and manage than
Linux-based rivals. My guess is we'll find that answer in early 2008. There's
also help on the way for small businesses in the form of "Cougar,"
a new version of Small Business Server with much the same basic lineup as Centro.
Posted by Doug Barney on 12/20/2006 at 1:15 PM0 comments
I don't pretend to understand how superconductors work, but I'm happy as heck
that we have them, especially when I hear about the
breakthroughs
expected next year. Hypres Inc., a superconductor vendor, has 10 predictions.
First up, cheaper MRI machines. For anyone who ever paid for a back pain or
muscular injury diagnosis, this is great news. Not to mention that the less-privileged
might be able to afford this amazing diagnostic tool.
On a less profound but perhaps no less important note, superconductors may
pave the way for a new class of super-speedy Internet switches, quantum computers
and ultra high-speed workstations.
Superconductors may also drive a new class of efficient propulsion systems
for ships, meaning Larry Ellison and Paul Allen will some day dramatically increase
the gas mileage on their mega-yachts!
Posted by Doug Barney on 12/20/2006 at 1:15 PM0 comments
Whether you like to build robots in your garage the way that bikers make choppers,
or make your living from robots, Microsoft has a system for you. The company
just
shipped the first version of the Microsoft Robotics Studio. Redmond hopes
to build an entire industry around its robotics platform.
If you're just a hobbyist, the $400 software kit is free.
Posted by Doug Barney on 12/20/2006 at 1:15 PM0 comments