VM Wary

Microsoft isn't the only vendor with security issues (but I'll argue that it's the most upfront about them). VMware, which is as much an OS as it is a virtualization layer, recently plugged two hypervisor holes.

Unlike Microsoft, these vulnerabilities were reported by an outside company. The remote code injection flaws are in two VMware Linux tools, and the patches are fortunately now available.

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Posted by Doug Barney on June 09, 20080 comments


This Web Server Not So Sun-ny

If you run Sun Java System Active Server Pages, you best get to patching. Security company iDefense (the same one that found the VMware problems) discovered a slew of vulnerabilities in the Sun Web server. Hackers can basically take over the whole deal, logging on, messing with files and running their own code. More

Posted by Doug Barney on June 09, 20080 comments


Tech-Ed Take 2

Last week, I was in Orlando for Tech-Ed. So why am I flying back to Florida today? To go to Tech-Ed! You see, this year Microsoft split Tech-Ed into two weeks. Last week focused on developers, and because my company also runs Visual Studio Magazine , Redmond Developer News More

Posted by Doug Barney on June 09, 20080 comments


Microsoft Opens Gates/Ballmer Kimono

Microsoft has one of the best Web sites for journalists in PressPass . In it are links to press releases, Q&As, photos and whatnot. It also links to articles from outside publications.

I had just finished reading an article in the Wall Street Journal, and was surprised to see Microsoft linking to the same thing. You see, this article delved into a multiyear power struggle between Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer that paralyzed many important Microsoft initiatives. Not an entirely positive piece.

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Posted by Doug Barney on June 09, 20080 comments


Microsoft Preps 7 Patches

Tomorrow is a relatively normal Patch Tuesday with seven patches set for release .

As usual, the patches focus on remote code execution. What's not so usual is that the patches address wireless networking and Bluetooth. Since wireless is the way many (most?) of us connect, these patches are well worth installing.

Posted by Doug Barney on June 09, 20080 comments


Giving the Big Guy a Poke in the Eye

Systems management vendor Argent has never been shy. I wrote a profile of the company and was pleasantly surprised at how unguarded and uncensored its CEO Andrew Blencowe was in my interview.

Blencowe's bluster reminded me of another CEO: Steve Ballmer.

Argent software competes directly with Microsoft MOM (Microsoft took a perfectly good name, MOM, and changed it to Systems Center Operations Manager 2007 -- catchy, eh?), and is not afraid to give the Redmond colossus a little what for.

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Posted by Doug Barney on June 02, 20080 comments


Good News on Mac ROI

Nucleus Research, which focuses on ROI and analysis, is in the midst of comparing Mac to PC ROI . Like Obama vs. Clinton, so far the early results have the Mac ahead. At one company studied, Macs have fewer problems which are solved faster.

I'd like to see more companies embracing the Mac -- not to give Steve Jobs more dough, or to reward what is arguably the most proprietary PC architecture in existence today, but to create competition for Microsoft.

Posted by Doug Barney on June 02, 20080 comments


Symantec and XP SP3 Just Can't Get Along

Some users upgrading to XP SP3 have run into a little snag: Their registries got corrupted.

But don't start throwing stones Redmond's way; in this case, it's actually Symantec's fault . It seems that a part of Norton anti-virus is the culprit. Symantec has issued a workaround.

Posted by Doug Barney on June 02, 20080 comments


VMware Bulks Up with App Performance Management

When VMware started, it was all about the hypervisor. But hypervisors, while of fundamental importance, are becoming commodities. The real action is in tools for management, as well as applications and storage.

VMware knows this better than anyone and has been building and buying tools to round out the portfolio. The latest deal is B-hive, an application performance management vendor that ships in the form of a virtual appliance.

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Posted by Doug Barney on June 02, 20080 comments


Mailbag: Microsoft in the Third World

As promised, here are more of your thoughts on Microsoft's low-end XP computers for Third World countries:

I have to respectfully disagree with your assertion that the OEM requirements for XP on a low-cost machine equate a third-rate technology score for the target countries. A machine packing a punch of 1GHz processing power, 1GB RAM, 80GB hard drive and running Windows XP is a more-than-capable machine for almost all desktop tasks the "average" user needs to get by. How does that make it third-rate? Unless you're a gamer or have some other requirements that demand a stalwart machine, a faster processor, more RAM and more hard disk space are merely non-needed extras.

If I read the gist of the target areas correctly, the idea is that low-cost machines can reach developing countries to better get them into the current times. These machines would really be targeted for beginner and novice computer users (I used "average" up above). What kind of stuff does a beginner or novice do on a computer that these low-cost XP machines won't be able to do? I know MySpace and YouTube work just fine. Where they will be limited is their actual Internet connection and speed, not the processing power.
-Kris

If I recall correctly, IBM was trying to do the same with mainframe sales in the late '60s and early '70s. IBM was only allowing older mainframes (that had just come off lease) to be sold to India. India wanted to buy the latest powerful mainframes but was rebuffed. India complained about this treatment, to no avail, and so banned the sale of IBM products in India for 20 years.
-Garry

The required max specs will allow XP to run OK on these machines. Most importantly (to MS), low-end XP "starter systems" make the Microsoft brand imprint for future sales of any MS product, in the brain cells of potentially decamillions of future consumers and workers. That says it all.
-Eric

This is not about what's fair. It's about Microsoft competing with Linux in emerging markets. Though technically Vista-capable, these LCPC specifications are robust enough for XP as well as for Linux -- though XP Home is somewhat crippled for anyone but users with minimal needs. As for these LCPCs being "too lame," that's up to the buyers of these systems to determine. A lame computer is better than no computer at all. From what we've seen so far, interest in these $200 systems (a la OLPC) has been lukewarm at best -- and no one is telling Third World governments that they cannot buy more robust Vista systems. Or that they cannot downgrade those systems to XP Pro themselves. Further, you cannot tell me that for the right quantity, Microsoft wouldn't permit an OEM to make a deal with a Third World government for XP Pro on any box they sell at any price point.

The point is, it makes no sense for anyone with a Vista Premium-ready system not to run Vista. It's in the user's best interest, it's in the OEM's best interest and it's in Microsoft's best interest. Microsoft must also look out for its OEMs, who cannot make any money on LCPCs except in very large quantities. For OEMs, $500 is pretty much the lowest they can afford to sell a single PC. By prohibiting their OEMs form selling XP, they are really protecting their OEMs by limiting their support costs to a single platform. Keep in mind that there is also a Vista Starter Edition tailored to these LCPC specifications. Keeping XP Home around for these Vista-capable LCPC devices is no more than Microsoft offering a bone to XP zealots to keep them busy.
-Marc

It looks like those same folks who control Microsoft absolutely loved the 1975 cult movie "Rollerball." James Caan is XP, if you know what I mean. As far as fairness goes, the fact is, the Third World is third-rate for a reason. They can't cut it for economic, political or infrastructure reasons. At least they won't have Vista shoved down their throats unless they actually want it.

We can all say it would be nice if Microsoft would let us have what we want, but the simple fact of the matter is you (and I) don't matter -- not to Microsoft. Soon, I will eliminate having a computer at home. No more viruses, no more unsolicited e-mail, no more "you have to buy our new stuff or else what you have won't work anymore" and, finally, much more money in my pocket and not theirs.
-Tired of the Game

Microsoft's push to Vista is the best reason why Microsoft should have been broken up years ago. Many of us use regulated software that cannot run on Vista and the inability to obtain new PCs with XP having any power is going to cripple many critical operations, including many in health care.

I am not a proponent of legislation to regulate industries, but in this case, Congress needs to mandate that Microsoft continue to produce and distribute XP with no strings attached. Then the mistake that was made in not breaking up Microsoft needs to be undone. Regulation only occurs when there is abuse of a dominant condition. There is no question that Microsoft has the ability to adversely affect the public good.
-Stephen

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Posted by Doug Barney on May 20, 20080 comments


Record Reader Feedback!

We may have a record here. On Thursday, I wrote about XP heading to the Third World on artificially restricted PCs as Microsoft pushes the industrial/developed world aggressively toward Vista.

Within hours, my inbox was flooded. Well over 30 responses poured in. Here are as many letters as we could squeeze into one newsletter -- check out tomorrow's for the rest.

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Posted by Doug Barney on May 19, 20080 comments


Vista Security P&#!!-ing Contest

Feel free to file this under the "Duh!" category. Security company PC Tools spent last week arguing that Vista isn't all that secure and that third-party tools are needed for safe computing.

Of course, there are some systems where you can more or less get away with no add-on virus/malware protection. Of the four Macs I've bought and paid for (then promptly gave away to my children), none have ever had security software. Linux is the same.

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Posted by Doug Barney on May 19, 20080 comments