Microsoft is a marketing machine. In fact, it is so powerful it thinks it can make do with fewer cylinders. This 12-cylinder beast won't exactly turn into a four-cylinder Pinto. Instead, a small number of jobs will be jettisoned as the company tries to simplify its organization.
You might be tempted to think that all this talk about simplification is just PR double-talk (and maybe it is). But a company as large as Microsoft surely has more useless layers than a Kim Kardashian wedding cake. My guess? Microsoft marketing won't skip a beat.
So far it doesn't seem that more than the 200 or so employees rumored to be let go are involved.
My high hopes aside, it is still sad in the economy to see anyone lose a job. Thank goodness it still has around 90,000 workers to pitch in.
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/08/2012 at 1:19 PM2 comments
I still use a BlackBerry for two reasons: When I got my first (of three) it was enterprise-ready out of the box -- and I really needed to access my company's Exchange servers. Also, Verizon didn't have anything else when I first signed up years ago. I'm on the BlackBerry bandwagon until April 16 when my Verizon contract expires.
After that I'll likely move to an iPhone, which now has little problem syncing with Exchange.
To maintain whatever enterprise edge it has, RIM (which makes the BlackBerry) will integrate its phones with Office 365. This all sounds pretty cool. Just like the integration with on-premise Exchange, BlackBerry devices can sync with Exchange mail, calendar and contacts.
The coolest part is the protection of your data. Because it is in the cloud, it should be secured by your provider. And if you lose your phone, you can remote wipe it clean. Sweet. You can also remotely reset the password.
What phone and service would you recommend? Put on your Ann Landers wig and send your best advice to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/08/2012 at 1:19 PM4 comments
Windows 8 isn't just great for PC clients, tablets and servers -- there's also a SmartPhone version on the line. Of course what would an unreleased product be without a code name? Instead of just calling it Windows Phone 8, Microsoft refers to it as "Apollo."
While Apollo may have been the Greek God of the sun, the name is not all positive. Do you really want to name your next product in a market where you are already losing after a doomed spacecraft? How about Titanic or Mount Vesuvius instead?
Always the optimist, Microsoft is packing this new OS with tighter integration with its tablets and PCs – it's trying to turn the phone into a client for your base computing device. Of course, the phone OS will use the Metro interface, which could be as ubiquitous as windows and dialog boxes in years to come.
The integration is largely based on shared components. If the phone OS has much the same stack as the PC/tablet client, it ought to interoperate!
Best expert guesses? This baby ships by year's end with about 100,000 apps ready to roll.
What will it take for Microsoft to take a commanding place in the smartphone world? Your best advice welcome at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/06/2012 at 1:19 PM6 comments
All the major OEMs, from HP and IBM to Oracle (by virtue of Sun) and Dell, have cloud stories to tell. Some of these tales involve public cloud services. These OEMs sell hardware to fill massive server farms, and often sell services themselves.
There is also money to be made in private clouds where internal servers are highly virtualized and managed -- and turns into services where capacity shrinks and grows based on demand.
Last time I took a close look at Dell's virtualization strategy the company was closely aligned with VMware. While it still has a VMware bent, Dell is also supporting Hyper-V, and its new line of private cloud-ready servers can go either way.
One new box is the vStart 200, which can handle 200 VMs (hence the name).
Servers are just one piece of the puzzle. The real magic is in management and orchestration, which shifts loads from one machine to next to handle computing demands, maintain uptime through failover and maximize performance. Here Dell is offering management software that works with Microsoft System Center.
How do you define a private cloud and will they live up to the hype? You tell me at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/06/2012 at 1:19 PM0 comments
Here's the funny thing about Windows XP: Just like Rambo, it seems to be a thing that just can't die. Microsoft tried to replace it with Vista, but it was Vista that pushed up the daisies. Windows 7 was a darn good try -- but even with that XP's heart didn't skip a beat.
In fact, XP share actually grew last month, albeit a paltry 0.67 percent. XP still has nearly half the OS market. Meanwhile MacOS totals a bit more than 5 percent. I'm not sure if Net Applications, which did the research, even bothered to look at Linux.
The research is all well and good, but the reader comments underneath the story really tell the tale. You see, IT really understands XP. Shop apps work, and admins know how to fix most every problem. And you don't need to buy a new machine, new OS, new apps and new drivers -- just keep XP chuggin' along.
Many in IT actually buy new machines, then wipe off Windows 7 and install XP -- all for that precious compatibility. And one reader points out that some OEMs still sell new netbook with XP, despite that fact that XP is set to lose support in a couple years.
Given that Microsoft both created and tolerates the situation that keeps XP compelling, I think formal support should be extended.
What say you? Thoughts welcome at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/06/2012 at 1:19 PM18 comments
Readers share their opinions on two entirely different aspects of the app world:
I have a love/hate relationship with the app store concept. I love that my app can be found and that I can find other apps. But I hate that I have to give the store owner 30 percent for hosting my app. I bet even high-end marketing firms don't take 30 percent of a product's sales for a fee. Heck, even the government doesn't tax sales at 30 percent. But since it seems that our only choices in the future will be to use the app store or develop for some other platform I am hoping for in-app sales or subscriptions that would not be subject to the app store tax.
I like the idea of a declining percentage but think Microsoft should have taken it further with high volume apps (like Angry Birds) eventually getting to the point where Microsoft's cut equals their bandwidth bill for distribution since having those popular apps on the store will drive other purchases and becomes advertising for the app store.
-Scott
I'll just say that after using both Google Apps and Office 365 extensively I have pretty much abandoned both of them in favor of desktop apps and Sugar Sync to ensure my files are accessible at all times. Our university has a big pipe to the Internet and at various times the slowdowns for getting work done is just too much for me (I admit to being a bit obsessive -- some people at work and home openly call me Monk). And while I know that privacy is largely an illusion I still try to keep what I can on premises and share only when there is a very clear advantage, and I don't see the advantage of either of these services yet.
-Mark
Share your thoughts with the editors of this newsletter! Write to [email protected]. Letters printed in this newsletter may be edited for length and clarity, and will be credited by first name only (we do NOT print last names or e-mail addresses).
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/06/2012 at 1:19 PM1 comments
NIST, otherwise known at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, thinks it knows a thing or two about building or buying a proper cloud.
The most impressive clouds are dark, with sharp shards of lightening, wind, rain and danger. That's perfect for watching, but dangerous for running your business. Here you want a safe, puffy cloud --one that won't hurt a soul but will feed and crops and keep those lawns fresh and green.
NIST thinks a good cloud is private and secure, and it has government-funded documents to prove it. The group just released some guidelines, and since you as a taxpayer already paid for them, you might as well listen.
This is where NIST insists:
- Research precisely what cloud providers offer and make it match your security needs before signing any contract.
- Figure out who is accountable for security and privacy and how they will actually be held accountable.
- Before building a cloud, think through issues of privacy and security and built those protections into your plan,
What are your top cloud criteria? Share your thoughts at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/03/2012 at 1:19 PM0 comments
PST (personal storage table) files are either a godsend or a curse. On the positive side, messages can be saved on end-users PCs without clogging corporate servers. This gives end users more control and they don't have to be backed up umpteen times (or if you buy into EMC's approach, umpteen times two).
There are two downsides. Locally stored files don't meet today's compliance standards and it can be a real bear dealing with .PST files.
As au aside, I once got a ZIP .PST file from an IT author. I didn't know off the bat how to use it and asked him for advice. This guy, who trust me is a big time expert, knew how to create a .PST but not how to use it.
Another problem? Finding mail stuck in some .PST files. Here is Microsoft's latest crutch. PST Capture works with your MailboximportRequest cmdlet (so now the language of IT is as obscure and protected as that of lawyers and politicians) and helps IT find files that should be easily found in the first place.
This is all great for IT pros that have the specialized knowledge to make this work, but doesn't this all still sound like a kludge? Wouldn't it be better for IT to drive real innovation, rather than fighting with a MailboximportRequest cmdlet just to get the CEO's personal mail back?
And are compliance rules preventing another economic meltdown or preventing businesses from truly prospering? Let it fly at [email protected] and see your opinions (first name only) posted ASAP!
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/03/2012 at 1:19 PM1 comments
Readers share their thoughts on moving over to Windows 8 on release:
I am not sure that moving to Windows 8 will ever be a priority for me. I do not view every new version of an OS as a must-have since the operating system is just an interface to the hardware for applications. Since I do not buy most of sales hype (if you need marketing guys to sell me something, I probably don't need it anyway) there is not good reason to jump to another OS just for the fun of doing it. I am guessing we will go to Win 8 when the next version is in beta.
-Anonymous
My focus with a new OS or application is how it impacts the enterprise business. Because of this I tend to hold off on downloading betas until they are close to RTM -- so I haven't taken a look at Windows 8 yet.
Our IT visionaries have decided that we will adopt future operating systems within nine months of their release. We're still stumbling around trying to migrate to Windows 7 and can't even determine what apps need to be sent offshore to a Microsoft packaging/sequencing factory in India (we've contracted with MS to help us do the migration). It's embarrassing.
Anyway, if we stick to the new vision we'll be rolling into Windows 8 right after we finish Windows 7 (assuming we can actually finish Windows 7).
-JC
I am an early adopter so I will go to Windows 8 sooner rather than later. My employer is a 'major mid-western university' and it is pretty aggressive. But I would not expect my employer to roll out Windows 8 before Summer 2013. Or maybe as late as Summer 2014.
-Marc
Tried the developer's preview and the IE 10 trial. As the help person for a small school district, trying to keep teachers up to date with interface and system changes from XP to Vista to win 7 has been enough headaches. The changes for Win 8 even confused me when I tried to do the simple maintenance activities that I do routinely. Some I never did figure out in either of the interfaces. Using the control panels create a nightmare. Will try to avoid Windows 8 and let the person hired after I retire in a couple of years deal with it. At home -- never!
-Anonymous
Share your thoughts with the editors of this newsletter! Write to [email protected]. Letters printed in this newsletter may be edited for length and clarity, and will be credited by first name only (we do NOT print last names or e-mail addresses).
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/03/2012 at 1:19 PM3 comments
Looks like readers didn't like the news of Google's enhanced snooping policy. Here's some responses:
I agree that this is an invasion of privacy. While I am concerned with Google having this information, my main concern is more about how well will they be able to protect the information that they collect. Google should be held financially accountable for any Personally Identifiable Information that they allow to be compromised. I guess it's time for me to start using a different search engine.
-Mike
Well, one has to remember Google has never been free and does come at a price (your info). As Lifehacker stated "If You’re Not Paying for It; You’re the Product". It still creeps me out though and I feel I should have an option to opt out of some things. Maybe if Google offered an ad-free paid subscription for it's services, then maybe one could Opt Out.
-TJ
It's a violation of my privacy - always has been and always will be. Kind of like the tracking cookies you are using on this site.
-EOS
Total violation of privacy and, like JC, I'm more worried about the government or other third parties (legit or hacked) getting access to the data. Best to not put all your eggs in one basket. Use YouTube, Bing, Yahoo email and get a Blackberry phone. That way, nobody can put all of your info into one file.
-Anonymous
Share your thoughts with the editors of this newsletter! Write to [email protected]. Letters printed in this newsletter may be edited for length and clarity, and will be credited by first name only (we do NOT print last names or e-mail addresses).
Posted on 02/01/2012 at 1:19 PM3 comments
When was the last time Google, Facebook and Microsoft agreed on anything (except for keeping corporate tax rates low)? There is one other point of unity -- spam should be spurned, stricken and stamped out!
These three are part of a 15-vendor technical working group that is trying to stop spammers from spoofing legitimate addresses. How many fake e-mails have you gotten from Bank of America to reset your password or Microsoft to collect your lottery winnings? I get 'em most ever day.
The approach suggested by the Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance is to authenticate real e-mails from real companies. Those that aren't authenticated can be more easily blocked by anti-spam software.
I'd love to see more of this type of cooperation, reaching across the aisle if you will. And if customers make enough noise, it just may happen.
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/01/2012 at 1:19 PM3 comments
For some, success just comes naturally. Einstein was born a genius and Sophia Loren was born beautiful.
Apple has a similar type of luck or magic. It hasn't made a decent pass at the enterprise in years. And instead of feeling slighted, IT responded by buying up Apple gear. Sure, the Mac has fewer shares than it would if Apple would lower the price and license the OS. But the Mac is growing, nonetheless.
What is really booming, however, are iPhones and iPads. While Apple sits on its enterprise hands, app developers and IT have taken it upon themselves to make these both serious tools. According to Forrester, close to a third of IT shops formally support the iPad.
In fact, many of you wrote to me about successes with the iPad -- maybe it should be renamed the ITpad?
Over a dozen of you talked to me in great detail, leading to an in-depth report, IT Loves the iPad.
However, loving something doesn't mean it's perfect -- even the best couples have an occasional tiff. I beat even Ozzie and Harriet had a spat or two. The readers (who shared praises for the device) aren't afraid to point out the iPad's flaws. Here's a quick synopsis:
Many see iPads as immature when it comes to management -- there's no cheap or easy way to centrally manage a host of devices. That means an IT manager must struggle to keep a fleet of iPads consistent and updated.
Some found that the iPad was not 100 percent stable, and recovery can require a reinstall of all user apps.
And with such a new class of devices, security is a concern. At least one reader fears that iPads are not mature enough to be truly safe.
What do you see wrong with the iPad? Share at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 02/01/2012 at 1:19 PM3 comments