Praising Microsoft’s Partner Program
A recent IDC report -- which Microsoft promptly promoted -- found that Microsoft’s
partner program is
superior
to 25 other software competitors. As skeptical as I am of vendor-promoted
research reports, I believe this one 100 percent. Some 97 percent of all Microsoft
sales go through partners, and Redmond has a pretty amazing partner support
infrastructure.
Our new magazine, Redmond Channel
Partner surveyed some partners and found that, despite some typical
griping, they’re
pretty happy.
Are you a partner? What should Microsoft do to improve its program? What do
you like and what do you hate? Let us know at [email protected].
If you want a free subscription to our new channel book, pop over here.
Blending Windows and Linux the Centeris Way
Centeris is a pretty cool
company that is backed by an even cooler VC firm: Ignition Partners. Ignition
is packed with former Microsoft big wigs, and these ex-execs spotted a winner
in Centeris, which is just now
shipping its first product, Likewise Management Suite 1.0. With Likewise,
one can configure and manage Linux servers using common Windows tools.
What do you use Linux servers for, and have you dabbled with open-source desktops?
Write me at [email protected].
Total Cell Phone Disaster
Cell phones have gotten a lot of folks in trouble, but it’s usually because
of carelessness or stupidity, like keeping your girlfriend’s number as
a contact and letting the wife borrow the phone. Not smart. But even the truly
devious can now get nailed based on a new
service that’ll scare up your cell phone records for a little as a
hundred bucks. To suspicious housewives, this is a godsend -- money in the bank
when it comes time to go to divorce court. To me it’s one more unacceptable
invasion of privacy for me, my wife and my girlfriend.
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Wonder if Ray Wrote This One
Exchange is taking over the messaging world, but the pesky Notes/Domino family
still has more market share than Redmond can stomach. To help the unwashed Lotus
masses see the Exchange light, Microsoft introduced
a new line of free tools to not just move mailboxes but application data
as well.
Ray Ozzie, Microsoft’s chief technology officer, invented Notes, but
no word yet on how he feels about gutting his old offspring. I used both and
never fell in love with either. I still want my Eudora back!
About the Author
Doug Barney is editor in chief of Redmond magazine and the VP, editorial director of Redmond Media Group.