IBM and Virtual Power

Those wedded to Wintel servers may not even realize that the old PowerPC processor (now called Power) still exists. While Apple may have bailed on the Power architecture, it still drives the world's fastest supercomputers and a line of IBM servers, as well.

One of the selling points of the IBM System p line -- besides sheer horsepower -- is energy-efficiency and high-efficiency. The System p actually has virtualization built into almost every aspect of the system, from apps to IO to management.

More

Posted by Doug Barney on February 04, 20080 comments


Vista Help Is on the Way

Many in IT won't adopt a new Microsoft OS until its first service pack (in Vista's case, it might take a few). Well, bucko, here's your chance to take the plunge. It seems that Vista SP1 could ship as soon as the middle of next month .

Usually, a service pack fixes a bunch of bugs and a gaggle of glitches. Vista's issues are more fundamental. Vista requires a mental shift and total readjustment in how it works. That does not a service pack address.

More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 28, 20080 comments


Time for Mac Security Software?

Mac bigots love to kid Windows users about all our viruses, rebuilds and exploits. And they're right. The question is: Why is Windows so vulnerable? Mac-philes would like to believe their platform is intrinsically safer. The other theory is that hackers attack those systems with the most market share. And perhaps the theory most on target: Hackers just love to mess with Microsoft.

More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 28, 20080 comments


SQL Server (Late) 2008

Oops. Late next month, Microsoft is having a huge launch party for Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. But SQL Server may not see the full light of day until the end of this year .

But heck, the hotel is booked, the execs are scheduled, the appetizers are ordered -- so Microsoft is going ahead with the launch, anyway.

Posted by Doug Barney on January 28, 20080 comments


Don't Cry for Microsoft

Every year, I hear how Microsoft is under siege, that it just can't compete with fresh new technologies. The Network Computer promoted by Sun and Oracle was going to kill Windows (instead, Windows through Citrix is the OS that drives today's thin clients). Linux was going take over because it's free (instead, Microsoft decided to integrate with Linux while dramatically improving its own server OS). More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 28, 20080 comments


IE 7 -- Whether You Like It or Not

If you have Windows update set to auto-approve, you'll soon be using IE 7. On Feb. 12, all such systems will be updated with IE 7 . Your choice? Bite the bullet and get moved to Redmond's version of tabbed browsing, or change your update settings.

Posted by Doug Barney on January 28, 20080 comments


Leopard Making Friends, Influencing Users

Redmond magazine just completed a major reader survey (thanks to all who took the time to answer our many questions!), and the news on Vista is not good. While there's massive excitement about Windows Server 2008, Vista adoption is anemic. Apple is taking full advantage of this in the consumer market, making millions with overpriced but solid and easy to use laptops and desktops. More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 21, 20080 comments


Windows 7 May Ship Sooner Than Expected

The next Windows client will probably ship before most of you even move to Vista. Windows 7, as it's currently called, may ship late next year .

I'm hoping that Microsoft re-architects the Windows client to truly exploit multicore processors. The OS itself could be more multithreaded so operations are distributed against processors. It could make the multitasking -- instead of largely sharing a single processor -- work across the cores. And Microsoft could revamp the API to make it easier for developers to parallelize their apps.

More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 21, 20080 comments


Sick of Your Job?

Tired of IT? Worried about a recession? Or just hate your boss? Joanne Dustin may have the answer. No, she doesn't have a bunch of openings for Chippendale dancers or highly paid Hollywood assistants. Instead, she has a book that explains how she moved from IT to another career: writing about how she went from IT to a career writing and speaking about moving from IT!

The book is Life Beyond IT: Open the Door, Your Future is Waiting. You can find it on Amazon.com (or perhaps your co-worker's desk drawer!).

More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 21, 20080 comments


Heading On Up to Redmond

If you're one of Microsoft's largest customers or partners, you've probably been wined and dined on its campus, probably at the Executive Briefing Center. If you head up there again, you may find fancier digs. After a two-year makeover, that center is now 20,000 square feet larger .

More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 21, 20080 comments


Ninja Made Easier

Sunbelt Software has long been a fixture in the Windows third-party market. Its crown jewel may well be Ninja, a suite of e-mail-centric security tools, which was recently well-reviewed by the experts at Redmond magazine.

Now, Sunbelt is making it easier to install this anti-virus, anti-spam, e-mail management tool in the form of the new More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 21, 20080 comments


Microsoft Losing Two Top Talents

Jeff Raikes, one of the Microsoft execs with the most years under his belt (and one of the nicest business leaders you'll ever meet), is retiring this fall .

Originally from Apple, Raikes has done nearly everything in his 27-some years at Microsoft. Most recently, Raikes drove the Office System business, especially the collaboration tools that run on top of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

More

Posted by Doug Barney on January 14, 20080 comments