HP and Microsoft Unveil Appliances
    		OK, so we were expecting some blenders, maybe a washer or a food  processor, but the  appliances HP and Microsoft trotted out yesterday are more about cloud  computing than what used to be called "home economics."
There are five appliances in total, one of which is intended to help  companies build a private cloud "in a box." That leads us to wonder  -- when is the cloud not the cloud? If it's installed and administered  on-premises, is it still the cloud? And can the cloud be put in a box?
We're probably over-thinking this, or not thinking enough. Anyway, the  other appliances include an Exchange-based messaging appliance and an appliance  for building data warehouses that costs $2 million. That last one, called SQL  Server 2008 R2 Parallel Warehouse edition, was code-named Project Madison  during its development. Madison...hmm, why does Madison stick in the  mind?
Oh, yeah. Madison, as in Wisconsin. Wisconsin, as in the  Rose Bowl.  Now we remember why Madison rings a bell. Yup, your editor is still giddy.  And with that, we wish you a great weekend.
 
	Posted by Lee Pender on January 20, 2011