Microsoft Competing with Google-Obama Alliance?

The theory is that Schmidt is Obama's de facto technical adviser, and that an Obama administration would craft policies more to Google's liking than to Microsoft's. It even quoted an unnamed source (and just one, mind you) who said that Microsoft is "terrified."

I've covered Redmond on and off since 1985 and I've never seen Microsoft terrified, or even really nervous; it's like the John Wayne of software. I don't think Microsoft has any reason to worry, either. One of the key issues is whether the Democrats will get tougher on antitrust, but these days there are just as many Google antitrust issues as Microsoft.

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/12/20080 comments

Sun and Microsoft Détente Working: Google Dumped for Live

This week, in fact, Sun announced that the MSN Toolbar can be downloaded as part of the Java Runtime. That means the Google Toolbar is getting kicked off, at least in the U.S.

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/11/20080 comments

Virtual Phone

Under the VMware Mobile Virtualization Platform, the phone itself is virtualized so that the hardware is separate from the embedded apps (could be a cool way to have an iPhone and Google phone running at the same time, eh what?).

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/11/20080 comments

Mailbag: Multi-Core, Veterans Day

You're missing the point with the core support: There's virtually no application software out there that will leverage the multi-core systems at the scale they exist at today, and there isn't really need to grow it in the future. The only thing that will need that many cores is a virtualization platform, and even then you're going to have RAM limitations well before you get to the processor bottleneck.

Show me an application platform that will benefit from the processor scaling and do so cost-effectively in a single chassis, and I'll get excited. Until then, it is just a marketing number that is rather irrelevant. Talking with an MS program manager a couple months back, he let on that 256 processors was probably going to happen, but also that there really is about zero demand for it in the market and that demand isn't expected to grow. It isn't that surprising really.
-Seth

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/11/20080 comments

Google and Microsoft Agree on Airwaves

That's the great part. Here's my fear, though: I worry that these spectrums, even though they're unlicensed, will be sold or given to service providers who will charge whatever the market will bear.

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/11/20080 comments

Mailbag: Windows 7 vs. XP vs. Vista

Maybe Microsoft will get it right with Windows 7. I've said all along that if Microsoft had an OS which was small and responsive, it would win over many companies. If the price is right and the performance is better than XP on our computers, we would switch to the new Vista.
-Mike

Windows 7 was good to take out some of the driver loading. But I've seen some of the videos of demos and they are ALL about appearance. Most of us don't need fancy front-ends (many people rarely have more than one app running at a time, possibly two if they are daft enough to monitor their e-mail). They need something simpler, more stable and more secure.
-Joe

I think Windows 7 is already competing more with Vista than it will with XP. However, as I think of my recently bought laptop and the pain I went through to get my apps working, I doubt that I will risk losing them by updating to Windows 7. This is in spite of the good words about Win 7. There is peripheral hardware involved and I am not confident the change would go well.
-John

Windows XP can be a more effective OS, but it still lacks in operating ability, troubleshooting techniques and user-friendliness. XP has been around for about seven years, but it still doesn't meet today's customer expectations. I think Microsoft should have developed and invested more on XP rather than any other OS.
-Brian

We have resisted using XP in our organisation for some time now since upgrading from 2000. Because of the fact that XP is very stable (ironically, not on my PC at home) and performs very well on our newer PCs, we have no reason to use Vista. We will be keeping a keen eye on Win 7 as hopefully it will fulfil the role Vista was supposed to.

I have used Vista a number of times and although the general look and feel are OK and functional, it still seems overly heavy on hardware.
-Colin

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/10/20080 comments

Windows Server 2008: The More Cores, the Better

Windows Server is different. The latest rev of Windows Server 2008 uses up to 64 processors. R2, due out in the next year or two, promises to exploit as many as 256. That could handle some mighty big databases, legions of mailboxes and a fair share of SharePoint!

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/10/20080 comments

A Nearly Patch-less Tuesday

Are you taking off Veterans Days, and if so, why? Your opinions and beliefs welcome at More

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/10/20080 comments

Yahoo Suddenly Cuckoo for Microsoft

Now that Yahoo's relationship with Google to share ad revenue fell apart More

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/10/20080 comments

Adobe Patches the Stack

Without the patch, hackers can build a malicious PDF -- and once one is built, these creeps will pass it around like a bottle of Ripple in a hobo camp. This one bad PDF, then, could let hackers control literally millions of PCs.

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/06/20080 comments

Mailbag: Your Thoughts on Cloud Computing

A frontal lobotomy and a bottle in front of me.
-James

In your article, you ask what it would take for a reader to put their files in a cloud somewhere. My answer is: NOTHING. I wouldn't do it. I know we're breeding a whole new generation that believes having your apps and files in a cloud is supposed to be more appealing and secure than traditional methods, but for me, I don't want my files to be the responsibility of anyone but myself. If my Internet connection is down and I need to work, where are my files? If the Web site where they are stored gets taken down or fails, where are my files? If I have to access the Internet over dial-up, are my files really accessible? If someone hacks the site hosting my files, are they still there, and if so, are they all over the world, as well?

No thank you! I will keep my files safe, secure and backed up at my home office and continue to use offline files when I travel. It's worked for me for years, and with nine copies and regular tape backups (moved offsite every week), I'll continue to have my files to work with when I need them and without all the worries. For individuals who are comfortable with the possibility of having their files unavailable, maybe it's a good thing. For myself, I can't imagine giving my file storage and safety away. It's almost like asking your best friend to mind your checkbook for you and make sure all your bills are paid, too. I may trust them, but never that far.
-Anonymous

I can't see myself using such capabilities in the near future. I have 100GB of information and backups that I manage securely between my three personal computers. Growth rate is 1 to 1.5GB per month. Remote access has not been an issue thus far as a flash drive and a laptop have proved sufficient for data I need to access away from home.
-Brian

I think cloud computing and Internet banking have some similarities. Why do I manage my money over the Web? I have a written contract with the bank. I can see my bank balance and my transactions at any time. I have access to history. I know that I can withdraw my money whenever I need it. (The analogy breaks down a bit here.) And I'm working with a firm that I can trust.

I'd want all of these things before storing my data in the cloud. I'd also want to be able to 'back up' my files onto my personal computer whenever I choose.
-Dave

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/06/20080 comments

Google Repairs Android

The patch is now out More

Posted by Doug Barney on 11/06/20080 comments