How serious is Microsoft about the cloud? Besides building new cloud infrastructure
software and retooling all its apps for remote computing, Microsoft is
pouring
huge bucks into its datacenters
, to the tune of 10,000 new servers every
month.
Microsoft has an interesting new approach to building datacenters with efficiencies
that remind me of state-of-the-art supplies like Wal-Mart has. Microsoft's approach
is all modular and snap-in, and the center is architected to deliver Just in
Time capacity (the same way a good supply chain delivers products Just in Time).
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/03/20080 comments
Desktop virtualization has been around for...I don't know. About at least 20
years. But there's a new debate over VDI, or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.
Citrix has long had server-based thin client computing, so VDI isn't the first
stab at this kind of processing. Instead, VDI adds an additional layer of virtualization
on top of the hardware so that each client has a more dedicated experience (virtual
gurus, feel free to correct or polish my definition by writing [email protected]).
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/03/20080 comments
Vista is still one of the great mysteries of software. Many like it and can't
for the life of them understand why it gets such a bad rap. Others hate it and
can't for the life of them understand why Microsoft built it in the first place.
For most Microsoft products, the first service pack stamps out the bugs and
makes it usable. The first Vista SP helped, but wasn't enough to change Vista's
bad reputation. Fortunately, SP2
is getting closer, as it's now in wide-scale beta.
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/03/20080 comments
We've covered (and lamented) OneCare quite a bit. For one, we were concerned
that
OneCare
competed directly
with McAfee, Symantec, Sophos and Sunbelt. These companies
all built anti-virus/anti-malware software that saved Windows from a viral meltdown.
Their reward? Having Microsoft compete with them directly, and even denigrate
partners that chose to work with non-Redmond-sourced security software.
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/02/20080 comments
A leader of the open source movement recently penned a
piece
for
BusinessWeek
arguing that the "open source business model is
broken."
My first reaction is that open source wasn't founded on a business model, but
on a software development model. This software model was then adapted by companies
such as Red Hat to underpin efforts to make money.
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/02/20080 comments
While less conservative than it was two decades ago, IBM isn't exactly a wild
and crazy company. So when IBM told me that electronic holiday toys
could
include malware
, I had to trust the information.
The idea is that toys, especially those that connect via USB, could be loaded
with software to give hackers a backdoor entry to your machine and maybe your
network.
Posted by Doug Barney on 12/02/20080 comments
There's just no shortage of opinions when it comes to the "Vista Capable"
sticker lawsuit. Today, it's the Microsoft defenders' turn:
OK...just a sanity check here. All of you whining about this, please
look carefully at the your computer and see if you can figure out who manufactured
it. Those whose computers were manufactured by Microsoft, keep complaining
about MS. The rest of you, aim your complaints at the computer manufacturer!
So much whine, bring on the cheese!
-Terry
I think MS should win the case. It's fun to knock the "Big Dawg"
which is why people tend to root for underdogs. I believe Microsoft didn't
even have to put that label on the hardware. Let's not blame it for the ignorance
of others.
-Michael
In my opinion, Vista is not just Vista Ultimate. I believe (correct me
if I am wrong) there are other editions including Home Basic, Home Premium,
Business, etc. If a machine can run Vista Basic (without the razzmatazz of
Vista Ultimate), then the machine is "Vista Capable." If the sticker
said "Aero Capable," then we have a different game entirely. I use
an HP dv2910us with 3GB RAM, and it's very capable of running Aero, but I
use the Windows Classic theme. Just because Aero is turned off, doesn't mean
I am not running Vista.
Microsoft should pay, but not through its nose.
-Anonymous
I think everyone is missing the point about the "Vista Capable"
stickers. Yes, Microsoft goofed when it allowed manufacturers to use them.
However, Microsoft did not manufacture any of those low-end computers or place
the stickers on the computers. Most of the blame should go to the manufacturers
who wanted to mislead consumers about low-end computers.
Another important question is: Why does Vista have so many flavors? Could
Microsoft be making these stripped-down products in response to manufacturers'
needs? Could it be making them to make more affordable products? After all,
it doesn't cost Microsoft any more money to ship Ultimate than it does to
ship Home Basic. Unlike Apple, Microsoft does not control the entire manufacturing
practice for its computers. If it did and forced manufacturers to make high-end
computers, it would deny access to a large segment of the populace.
-Earl
As they try to hang MS, how many of those same folks are trying to fry
the auto companies for the mileage ratings posted on the windows of new cars?
I know the auto companies all say, "Well, those are the numbers from
the government testing," but I don't hear any of them saying, "Here's
what you should really expect to get."
-Anonymous
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/02/20080 comments
Black Friday is a nasty name for a good thing: It's the day after Thanksgiving
when millions of American shoppers hit the malls in search of smokin' bargains.
Apple had been making noises about some sweet Black Friday dealios, so I checked
it out. The best bargain I found was $100 off its lowest-end laptop -- making
it still a hair under a grand.
As this bad economy continues, I believe Apple will have to lower its premium
prices. Kinda tough to shell out all that money for a Mac when you can't fill
your fridge with groceries.
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/01/20080 comments
Fred thinks the whole "Vista Capable" sticker debacle is a matter
of deception by omission:
So the sticker on the machine reads "Vista Capable." That tells
me the machine can run Vista. Doesn't say how well, though. And it doesn't
tell me Vista can run on the machine, either, without perhaps limping badly.
This is no different from the prior "Designed for Microsoft Windows XP"
stickers, such as the one HP affixed to my 256MB RAM Pavilion that really
needed a RAM upgrade to 1GB to run XP without constant HD swapping.
Typical modern-day, misleading advertising. It's the truth, yes, but
not the WHOLE truth. But I'd put the lion's share of the blame on the OEM,
not on MS. After all, MS didn't FORCE the OEM to affix that sticker.
-Fred
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/01/20080 comments
Will the soap opera that is Yahoo-Microsoft never end? The hostile takeover
attempt by Microsoft went on for months. Then, as Yahoo expressed interest,
Microsoft summarily called off the hunt and has repeatedly said
it
has no interest
in the search company.
A report emerged over the holiday break that Microsoft was offering
$20 billion for the search business. A day later, a "source" claimed
it was all poppycock.
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Posted by Doug Barney on 12/01/20080 comments
Years ago, it was pretty easy to keep track of ScriptLogic; the company had
a handful of programs aimed directly at Windows admins. But after an acquisition
or two, and lots of internal development, the company now has some 21 products
-- and that's not counting the half-dozen or so Quest products ScriptLogic now
offers (Quest bought ScriptLogic last year, but wisely kept it as an independent
brand and company).
Recently, the company enhanced
Security
Explorer
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Posted by Doug Barney on 11/24/20080 comments
Last week, Doug wrote about a list of the
"coolest"
IT jobs
, as determined by IT pros. Here's one reader's idea of a dream IT
job:
Being the 'Net admin for a giant adult entertainment dot-com.
-Scott
And here are more of your thoughts on whether Microsoft should win or lose
the "Vista Capable" label lawsuit:
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Posted by Doug Barney on 11/24/20080 comments