Well, we're not sure we can vouch for the a-OK part, but the release candidate of System Center Virtual Machine Manager R2 is available, anyway.
Posted by Lee Pender on June 10, 20090 comments
If the hype Microsoft generated for Vista was a 200-piece brass band playing John Philip Sousa marches with baton twirlers in tow and fireworks going off overhead, then Redmond's attitude toward Windows 7 is something closer to the mood music for this entry, Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" (performed here in 1972 with the requisite earth-tone background and big-bow-tie tuxedos of the era).
They way we remember it -- and it wasn't that long ago -- Microsoft built anticipation for Vista with all the subtlety of Gallagher (remember him?) wielding a sledgehammer. Bill Gates made an ill-fated appearance on "The Daily Show" (which is still hilarious), Microsoft had some sort of huge launch party in New York City, and the sucker trade press (ahem) wrote article after article on the operating system that would make us all forget XP. That was followed, of course, by months of Microsoft telling us how great Vista was, how it really was selling in huge numbers despite the fact that nobody you knew was using it and how it would go rocketing past XP in market share any minute now. (Well, that's what we remember, anyway, so some of that stuff must have happened.) Then, of course, there was the infamous "Vista capable" lawsuit, which produced tons of hilarious internal Microsoft e-mails for our reading pleasure.
So, everything considered, the whole Vista thing didn't go so well. We suspect that Microsoft has learned from that, though, because we're sensing a different approach thus far with the build-up to Windows 7. Microsoft seems to be playing it much cooler (hence the "Take Five" mood music) with this OS release.
First of all, Windows 7 is a relatively pedestrian name -- in fact, it's not much more than a code name gone public. Vista, on the other hand, seemed to suggest the precipice of all computing off of which we'd look and see the future of technology, as scary as that thought is now. Beyond that, while it's very clear that Microsoft wants us to buy -- and partners to sell -- Windows 7, we're not getting that in-your-face feeling from Redmond this time around.
Take Bill Veghte's speech about Windows 7 this week. We could almost see him coolly shrug, take a sip of his martini and sink into his leather armchair as he told the crowd at the UBS Global Technology and Services Conference that the new OS would likely create only a modest bump in PC sales. Microsoft? Modest? A new OS? Did these three things really appear in the same story?
They did, and we're not saying that Veghte is wrong. Unfortunately, he's probably right, especially in (all together now) this economy. But just the fact that a Windows bigwig at Microsoft tried to play down expectations for the launch of an OS tells us that Redmond is approaching Windows 7's introduction with a lot more realism, sophistication and maybe even humility than it showed with Vista's introduction.
And given that Microsoft needs to win back some hearts and minds of customers (and of partners) post-Vista, that's probably a very sound approach. Hey, we like John Philip Sousa, but there's a time for "Stars and Stripes Forever" and a time for "Take Five." And right now, we prefer Dave Brubeck's offering to JP Sousa's. Apparently, Microsoft feels the same way.
What's your take on Windows 7 marketing? Are you having to reassure your customers about Microsoft? Is there buzz about the new OS? Reveal all at [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on June 10, 20090 comments
Yeah, OK, it's not the most attention-grabbing headline ever, but your editor spent a considerable amount of time today poring over this blog entry about Microsoft's flat stock price and future strategy, as well as perusing the generally thought-provoking comments that follow the entry. We at RCPU are not quite as enamored with Apple as this fellow is, but a lot of what he says about Windows and Office reflects a viewpoint we're starting to come around to ourselves. Enjoy.
Posted by Lee Pender on June 09, 20090 comments
Ten fixes are on the way today, so don't be surprised if this update is a heavy one.
Posted by Lee Pender on June 09, 20090 comments
"Listen, don't really matter to me
Baby, you believe what you wanna believe"
--from "Refugee" by Tom Petty
You don't have to live like a refugee...but if you're a partner, you do have to pay attention to IT spending forecasts. They're a decent gauge of how much money is going to be in your bank account in the next few months. And, as with so many things in the industry, IT spending forecasts might as well be IT spinning forecasts, so full are they of differing angles and brave predictions. Let's try to go from best to worst with what we've seen lately.
One caveat: these forecasts are done by different firms, use different people in their surveys (although some respondents are bound to overlap) and aren't necessarily out to come up with the same types of numbers. Some focus on what we've seen so far in 2009, others on what the year as a whole will bring. So, this isn't necessarily an apples-to-apples-to-apples comparison. But it's an interesting exercise nonetheless, and all three of the reports we're looking at do deal with the broad topic of IT spending.
A couple of weeks ago, the folks at Robert Half Technology, an IT staffing specialist, managed to sound somewhat upbeat about IT spending, noting that CIOs aren't going to stop spending despite the fact that the rest of 2009 is likely to be tough. Here's a quote from the article linked above:
"'Although times are lean, many companies are finding that they can't afford to postpone IT investments that lead to increased security, efficiencies or revenues,' said Dave Willmer, executive director at Robert Half Technology, in a statement. 'Organizations also are trying to make sure they are prepared for growth when conditions improve, and enhancing their IT infrastructure is part of that process.'"
Hey, that doesn't sound so bad! Now, the folks at Robert Half aren't necessarily saying that IT spending will increase over the course of 2009, but they seem to be painting a mostly rosy -- or rosier than expected -- picture of this year's corporate IT budgets.
Forrester, however, puts a somewhat less optimistic spin on the situation, with the summary of Andrew Bartels' spending report sounding almost dire:
"The steep drop in economic growth in Q4 [2008] both caused and reflected a similar fall in tech purchases. As a result, we now expect US business and government purchases of IT goods and services to decrease by 3.1 percent in 2009, compared with the 1.6 percent increase we had previously projected for the year."
Ouch. That's not so rosy, although Bartels does say that spending will increase when the U.S. economy starts to rebound at the end of 2009. We'll see about that.
And then there's Gartner's Mark McDonald (who is not, as far as we know, a former Doobie Brother), who goes into great detail about just how bad things have been thus far in 2009. Spending declined by a weighted average of 4.7 percent in Q1, McDonald says, which sounds brutal and looks even more brutal in chart form, with a huge red bar sinking below the axis while happy gray bars precede it.
But McDonald says that it's unlikely that most CIOs will cut budgets any further for the duration of 2009, which is good news. The bad news for the channel? Less of the money that's being spent is actually making its way to partners, at least to those partners involved in consulting and the like:
"CIOs reported shifting more work to in-house resources more than reducing IT project investments. Few, only 9 percent, see increased use of outsourcing as a way to address the budget challenge."
Boo! The glimmer of hope in McDonald's report -- and it's barely a glimmer -- is that, and we quote, "CIOs expect the economy to recover between the first and third quarter of 2010." Uh, that's kind of a long time, especially when revenues at partner companies are already starting to dry up. Hopefully some of that money that's being hoarded in-house will make its way back into the channel in the next year or so.
We'd like to believe, too, that Forrester's forecast of a rebound at the end of 2009 will be more accurate than the prediction of a bounce some time in 2010. But, as Tom Petty sang at the outset of this entry, "You believe what you want to believe." The economy has to come back some time, though. If Tom were to offer his wisdom to us again, he might say that the waiting is the hardest part.
How's your 2009 looking, either from the IT spending perspective or from the partner revenue perspective? Sound off at [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on June 09, 20091 comments
It's been so long since we've run reader e-mails that we just can't help ourselves. You're getting a double dose this week! Let's pick up with Microsoft patenting technology to lock down the operating system. Joseph can kind of see where Microsoft is going with this:
"It is a rather interesting technology, actually, and I can see its uses, such as with Windows Unified Data Storage Server, where legally according to the license you can only install anti-virus, storage management and backup software. Of course, currently there is really nothing stopping you from installing whatever you want on your HP AIO Storage Server. Also, I can especially see it being useful for medical device vendors where they could be held responsible for an OS crash that causes someone to somehow die if the hospital IT department installs something it shouldn't."
Goodness, we hadn't thought of that, but that's why we ask for reader feedback. Death by Windows -- now that's grim. Talk about a blue screen...
Bryan is more on our wavelength on this issue:
"This can't be a serious question. [Well, sort of...but not really. --L.P.] No one should control the OS except the customer. That answer is so obvious that I'd worry about anyone who answered differently. Yes, a contracted outsourced IT support provider may actually deliver the control, but they effectively become part of the customer when they enter into the outsourcing agreement. They should be doing what the customer demands and requires, no more, no less.
"I would never let an ISV or vendor partner dictate what I can and cannot do with the workstations under my control."
Brian, we're right there with you. We figure most other folks in the industry and elsewhere are, too. Surely Microsoft understands that.
Finally, our e-mail of the week, maybe of the month. On the topic of Microsoft so graciously letting netbooks run more than three applications at a time in Windows 7, Kurt gives us -- and Microsoft -- something to think about:
"The article about Window 7 Starter Edition on netbooks being limited to only four concurrent applications got me thinking about the following: My BlackBerry Storm allows me to toggle between more than just four applications, LOL [that's the second 'LOL' we've had in an e-mail in this edition of RCPU, an unprecedented event --L.P.], and it only cost me $100 after a $50 rebate from VerizonWireless.com. Although the touch screen is only about the size of a 3"-by-5" note card, having the portability, all-day battery life and combination of a cell phone, GPS, 8GB flash drive, camera, video recorder, multimedia player, voice recorder and computer all in one device is a huge plus. I can do just about anything on my BlackBerry that I can do on Windows. In fact, if I could dock my BlackBerry as the CPU in a tablet-clamshell- type add-on device to achieve a full-size keyboard and LCD monitor, then why would I need Windows? [Let us just step in here: Why indeed, Kurt? We're not sure, either. --L.P.]
"If I were Microsoft, I would try to make Windows 7 on the netbook as functional as possible, rather than risk losing this popular new niche to a competitor such as BlackBerry. Kind of like what happened with Apple and the iPod. However, because of BlackBerry's unique heritage as a much leaner but robust business-aware operating system, perhaps it is a better fit as a netbook device OS."
Kurt, don't be too frightened by this, but our minds are running in the same channel here. Windows won't necessarily rule the technology world forever. The game is changing. We'll have to wait and see how or whether Microsoft changes with it. Thanks very much for that little vision of tomorrow's (actually today's) world.
Have anything to add? Add it at [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on June 04, 20090 comments
Back in the mists of time (weeks ago, when Swine Flu was in the news and Susan Boyle wasn't yet suffering from overexposure), we asked readers to send us "buy bonds" posters in honor of Microsoft's first-ever bond offering. To our great surprise, somebody actually did, and the contribution is magnificent. Check out Rae's handiwork:
Click on image for larger view. |
We also speculated as to what Microsoft might do with its bond money; specifically, we joined the chorus of pundits asking what might happen if Microsoft bought SAP. On that topic, we got a tremendous e-mail from Rich, with whom we'll be keeping in touch:
"I don't see it happening, but I can only imagine the fireworks that it would create. What would our boy in Redwood City do? Hey, maybe [Oracle CEO] Larry [Ellison] is already waiting in the wings with a pile of cash ready to suck up SAP when Microsoft decides against the deal. Just like the IBM/Sun deal. But wait, no, he'd have nothing to live for if he did. Hmm...He'd probably go for it anyway.
"You're right about the culture clash. I've worked for both Microsoft and SAP and their cultures are day and night (or should I say day und nacht?). The partner vs. direct-sales strategies would exacerbate an already bad situation that both companies wrestle with. As far as products, my guess is that Dynamics would ultimately fade into SAP's suite, and who knows when SAP's Business ByDesign SaaS will ever see the light of day. Walldorf has had heartburn over that since its inception.
"And Larry will be bristling. Oh, did I mention I worked for Oracle, too? Truth is, Larry's the only guy who has the stomach for such a deal -- largely because he doesn't care about the other culture or the fallout. Strangely enough, Oracle has done a very good job of integrating the likes of PeopleSoft, Siebel, Hyperion, BEA, etc. I was there when they happened and, frankly, we were all surprised at how smoothly they went down (no pun intended)."
Wow. Rich, you're in our Outlook contact list now. That's just some tremendous insight there. We have nothing to add except that the phrase "day und nacht" literally made your editor laugh out loud. Danke schön!
Also in the distant past, we did some complaining about Office 2010 arriving just as your editor is figuring out Office 2007. Peter, one of our better and more frequent contributors here at RCPU, felt pangs of sympathy:
"I never bothered to go with 2007. There was so much consternation about the place with the 'aghhhh ribbon' that I didn't bother. There was nothing in 2007 that I actually needed. As partners, we get all that stuff for free, but like Vista, most of it just sits on the DVD! I did give 2007 to my 15-year-old son and he seems to quite like it.
"I also bought my son a MacBook for school, and each day he tells me how it exceeds his expectations. Of course, he has all his Windows stuff on the Windows partition if he should want it, but he says he never needs to go there. He has Office 2008 on the Apple side and he says that's pretty good.
"As a Microsoft partner, it's a complete mystery to me why there are only 40 million Macs (and 40 million Linux) systems on the planet versus 1.25 billion Windows machines. My son and I often amuse ourselves by watching that series of Mac ads...unfortunately it's all true."
Oh, Peter, that last paragraph is trouble. We're going to leave it alone for the time being, lest this edition of the newsletter run into the tens of thousands of words. But we hear what you're saying, and we definitely hear you on Office 2007. It's a lot to learn for not a lot of reward, frankly.
Dave is a fellow kindred spirit:
"It has taken a while to get used to the new menu interface. I can't say I like it better, but time will tell. We all used the old interface for so long that it had become second nature. The only feature I really miss in Word 2007 in the HTML source viewer. I wish they would put that back into the product."
Dave, we wondered about that, too. Maybe it'll be back for Office 2010.
And Aaron got a chuckle out of your editor with this effort:
"Microsoft needs to give information about Access 2010. I can't find reliable information anywhere about this. I don't care about 'Access Web Access.' LOL -- what a horrible idea and name."
Aaron, to be perfectly honest, we don't know much about Access 2010. But Access Web Access -- yeah, that's comically bad.
Want to add to the e-mail pile? Throw one on at [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on June 04, 20090 comments
Boo! No, we're not booing Vista (anymore); we're trying to surprise you with the arrival of Windows 7, which is now due Oct. 22. That's just in time for Halloween, of course, which makes us wonder what Windows 7's costume will be.
Most likely, it'll be dressed as a knight in shining armor, out to avenge the good name of Microsoft after the Vista debacle. Or maybe it'll come in a lion's costume, ready to roar after Vista turned out to be a lamb (a generous characterization of the latter, we think -- we could have gone with something closer to rat). Whatever. We really don't have anything more to say about this except that we're curious to see how Windows 7 goes over. And we haven't even thought about our own Halloween costume yet. It's June, for heaven's sake.
How should Windows 7 dress for the Halloween ball? Be creative and send your thoughts to [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on June 04, 20094 comments
So, you thought NetApp was buying Data Domain. Well, so did NetApp. And then this happened: EMC got involved. Now it looks as though the storage titan and mothership of VMware will claim the acquisition prize and leave NetApp with its corporate head spinning.
Posted by Lee Pender on June 03, 20090 comments
Microsoft has a competitor to Windows in the netbook market that's not called Linux. It's -- guess who? -- Google, with the Android operating system, which will soon run on some Acer netbooks and likely make them cheaper than Windows models.
This is happening just as Microsoft and netbook maker Asus have decided to launch an anti-Linux campaign for netbooks. Linux, though, might be the easier of the two opponents to defeat in the battle for netbook OS supremacy. Stay tuned...
Posted by Lee Pender on June 03, 20090 comments
For a company with the mantra "don't be evil," Google sure does terrify a lot of folks in the technology industry.
Late last week, the search titan talked up Google Wave, a phenomenon probably best (and most often) described as a "real-time communication platform" but apparently packed with the destructive power of an asteroid slamming into the earth. Or at least into a bunch of big technology companies.
We're not going to go into great detail about what Wave is or how it will work because somebody else has already done it for us. For more than you ever thought you could know about Google Wave, check out this article.
What we can't help but notice -- and you've probably noticed it, too, if you've opened a browser this week -- is the panic that Google Wave is causing. This "wave" seems more like a monster than a wall of water. (Besides, we're still not comfortable making "wave" jokes for lots of reasons.) In fact, Google Wave makes us think of Godzilla terrorizing townspeople somewhere in Japan.
Look at them run! Wave is coming for everybody: e-mail, Facebook, Twitter (good riddance), SharePoint...wait, hang on. What was that last one? SharePoint?
Yes, there are pundits out there speculating that this Google monster will gobble up (or reduce to rubble, we suppose) Microsoft's collaboration cash cow. That would be bad news for Microsoft partners, who have been sharing the wealth that SharePoint has created for both the channel and the mothership. And it could happen, we suppose. After all, Wave does sound pretty impressive, and SharePoint kind of has the feel of stodgy old enterprise software, whereas Wave feels very Web 2.0 (or higher).
But let's not forget a few things. First of all, Google Docs hasn't unseated Microsoft Office (yet), despite being much simpler and cheaper than its more established competitor. Plus, the open source, Web-based nature of Wave might make some IT administrators nervous about using (and supporting) the platform for serious business purposes. Some might not even want their users running it at all. In how many offices is Facebook blocked? Twitter? Maybe even LinkedIn? They're not blocked at RCPU headquarters, but we know of places where they are.
SharePoint, on the other hand, has that old advantage that put Redmond on the map: It works well with all the Microsoft stuff companies already have, and it's relatively easy to administrate, support and control in a Microsoft environment. Wave is kind of a wild card -- seemingly pretty cheap and simple but nevertheless something of a mystery for the enterprise. We're at least going to wait until it's available even think about declaring it a SharePoint-killer. In other words, we're not ready to run from the monster quite yet.
How much of a threat will Google Wave be to SharePoint? Or Microsoft? Or anything else? Sound off at [email protected].
Posted by Lee Pender on June 03, 20092 comments
Let's set the mood for this one with a Pink Floyd tune we hadn't heard in years until it broke the normally crushing banality of classic-rock radio on the commute home the other day. It's "Free Four" by Pink Floyd, and while it's actually incredibly depressing, it is catchy...and relevant to this entry.
Apparently -- and, as has been the theme lately, this seems to be still-unconfirmed stuff -- Microsoft is going to allow Windows 7 Starter Edition to run more than three applications at once. (See, that's why we cranked up "Free Four." Four apps, not just three. Get it? Free to run four.) Anyway, Starter Edition is the Windows 7 version most likely to ship with netbooks, those nifty little devices your editor loves so much these days.
The idea had been that Windows 7 Starter Edition would only run three apps at once, but apparently (and allegedly) somebody in Redmond decided that even netbook users might like to crank up, say, Outlook, Word, Excel and a browser at the same time It's a dizzying concept, we know. Well, you can live dangerously now, netbook users, or you'll be able to when Starter Edition hits the streets later this year.
Microsoft has an uncomfortable relationship with netbooks and doesn't seem to have totally figured out what to do with them. But shipping a version of Windows 7 on them that isn't next to useless seems like a step in the right direction. Of course, Starter Edition will still have its limitations, but at least it won't be a total slap in the face to netbook buyers. And any time Microsoft decides to not slap users (and, by extension, partners) in the face, that's probably a good thing.
Have any leftover comments on Windows 7 or netbooks? Shovel them on over to [email protected]. Next week, we'll run some reader feedback. And this time, we mean it.
Posted by Lee Pender on May 28, 20090 comments