We've written so much about the cloud here recently that we don't even remember which post John was responding to when he sent us an e-mail on Microsoft's cloud efforts. Nevertheless, his thoughts are germane:
"Having worked very closely with Microsoft over the years, I've been becoming more and more frustrated with them and their attitudes to both the customer base and their partners. My background in hosting has seen the evolution of Windows hosting from a nebulous desire and hope of Scott Guthrie's through iterations of 'Solutions' and heavy, and successful, partner involvement on all levels to today's sorry state of affairs where they seem to be paying the partners lip service with vague reseller (actually referral) agreements and the injunction to 'create a new eco system' in support of BPOS / MOS <insert this months acronym here>. The grand statement of 'We're all in' is fine, but unfortunately the reality is that the organization is still very fragmented, and the alignment of products and their metrics is not following this grand scheme."
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Posted by Lee Pender on October 14, 20101 comments
The storage giant's recent acquisition has -- here it comes -- borne fruit.
Posted by Lee Pender on October 14, 20100 comments
Here's one for RCPU's Christmas list: a car that drives itself. It's Google's idea, of course, because it makes total sense that a software and search company should be developing and road-testing cars. Anyway, as a long-time Boston driver who still can't find Fenway Park without a GPS, your editor is completely in favor of this development.
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Posted by Lee Pender on October 13, 20101 comments
We're not totally sure how to digest this bit of information -- hence the brevity of this entry -- but rumors continue to pop up regarding Microsoft making a move to buy Adobe. In case you hadn't heard by now, apparently the two companies were in secret talks that are now not so secret. The market is all excited about this, as you might imagine. But remember, Microsoft buying Yahoo was once a done deal, too, until it wasn't.
Posted by Lee Pender on October 13, 20100 comments
We do a lot of reflecting here at RCPU. And we're not just talking about contemplation here. We try as best we can to be something of a mirror on the industry, particularly where Microsoft partners are concerned. That is to say that we try to consolidate and present in this space various observers' views -- as well as our own, of course -- on different topics.
That's why we're surprised at a lot of the reaction to Windows Phone 7, which Microsoft launched Monday on a semi-holiday here in the U.S. that RCPU actually had off of work. We had read over and over (and we had mentioned more than a few times) that the popular perception of Windows 7 among supposed experts was that it would be a dud the day it came out, woefully behind the iPhone and Android operating systems. That sounded totally plausible to us given Microsoft's recent history in the mobile market, so we bought into that view.
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Posted by Lee Pender on October 13, 20105 comments
Let's forget for a moment that Microsoft is very likely to embarrass itself with the Windows Phone 7 launch next week and try to focus on something positive. Steve Ballmer this week re-re-re-reiterated Microsoft's commitment to the cloud.
This time, he did it in Sweden, no doubt with pickled herring and outrageously priced alcohol for everybody. (What a beautiful city Stockholm is, though. So clean you could eat off the sidewalk, if you could stand to eat pickled herring.)
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Posted by Lee Pender on October 07, 20102 comments
The new offering is called LotusLive Notes, in cooperation with what must be some sort of law about using the word "Live" in hosted offerings...
Posted by Lee Pender on October 07, 20100 comments
Budding MSPs, your gift from heaven is here. MSP Alliance has put together a network of angel investors to help you get your business interests off the ground and, um, into the cloud, we suppose.
Posted by Lee Pender on October 06, 20100 comments
It's a terrible reaction, isn't it? We just can't help but have it, though. Every time Microsoft comes out with something aimed at tackling an Apple consumer blockbuster, we just cringe. The Zune still looms large in our consciousness here at RCPU.
And so we wait impatiently for Microsoft's slate computers, which Steve Ballmer says that we will see -- in some form or another; he didn't specify how -- by Christmas. We're impatient not because we want to run out and buy one but because we can't wait to start making fun of them.
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Posted by Lee Pender on October 06, 201017 comments
If it seems as though this is happening, that's because it is. Microsoft is, to an ever greater extent, turning its back on the little guy in favor of huge systems integrators and other global partners. What's a smaller shop to do? And what will the consequences of Microsoft's actions be? Andrew Brust has some answers.
Posted by Lee Pender on October 06, 20100 comments
 If you're a Microsoft partner, you need to read this. Now. Seriously, click on it before you do anything else. The title says it all
Posted by Lee Pender on October 06, 20100 comments