The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy is still waiting for his Ubuntu Linux PC to arrive from Dell. He ordered it back on May 27. Apparently, FedEx couldn’t deliver the system because they believed The VAR Guy’s street address was a vacant building. Here’s what went wrong and how Dell is resolving the issue.

Intel has opened its wallet again for open source, this time pumping money into Centric CRM. Intel’s open source interests reveal five key trends that should worry Microsoft and other closed-source software providers.

Quick, name the most popular Windows utility that customers are willing to pay for. Actually, The VAR Guy isn’t sure if he has the correct answer to that piece of trivia. But here’s an educated guess.

I’ve booked my travel to UbuntuLIVE, a conference scheduled for July 22-24 in Portland, Oregon. It will be interesting to see how this conference evolves over the next few years.

Microsoft has got to be scratching its head in bewilderment. This was supposed to be the year of Vista. But Vista has been a yawn for most PC buyers and some customers are seeking alternatives. In fact, two of Microsft’s closest partners — Dell and Intel — are set to sponsor a major Linux event right in Microsoft’s backyard.

Ziff Davis Media’s Linux-Watch blog seems to think Microsoft will partner with Ubuntu. But The VAR Guy, a blogger friend over at TechIQ magazine, begs to differ. He doesn’t think Ubuntu will sign any patent agreements with Microsoft. Here’s why.

So, did Dell really examine Ubuntu before preloading it on selected systems? Or did the company simply slap the operating system into a few desktops and notebooks and push them out the door?

I just got a call from my wife. My Dell PC with Ubuntu preinstalled has just arrived at my house. I’m busy at my day job but will post some initial thoughts about the system this weekend.

The speculation has started. Now that Microsoft has lined up patent agreements with three Linux companies, some pundits think the software giant will pursue a deal with Canonical — keeper of the Ubuntu flame.

Here’s some interesting commentary from Cathy Malmrose of ZAreason.com, a small supplier of PCs with Ubuntu Linux preinstalled. I asked Cathy if Dell’s move into the Ubuntu market would help or hurt ZAreason’s business.

Yet another open source software provider has signed a licensing and patent agreement with Microsoft. The VAR Guy wonders: Is Microsoft moving a few strategic pieces into place before launching a legal showdown against Red Hat? Or is this another case of Microsoft spreading Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD) within the open source community?

How’s this for a mixed mood: I’m disappointed but impressed. First, my disappointment. I’ve just been informed that my Dell PC with Ubuntu Linux won’t ship until around June 19. I placed the order around May 27.

This is pure speculation by The VAR Guy. But things are getting a little strange over at Dell. It seems that some people who ordered Dell PCs with Ubuntu Linux preinstalled have been told that ship dates have been delayed a bit.

I ordered my Dell PC with Ubuntu Linux on May 27. Dell.com informed me that the system would ship somewhere around June 12. Quite a long wait, but I was willing to sit tight rather than purchase a Windows Vista or Windows XP box.

After using Google applications for about a year, The VAR Guy recently realized he’s reached a tipping point: He now uses seven Google applications far more often than he uses Microsoft Office. Here’s a quick look at each online application, and it’s impact on The VAR Guy’s productivity.

Imagine if Dell erected a bunch of Linux billboards on a major highway at the very time Microsoft was striving to promote Windows Vista. That’s the scenario unfolding on the Dell.com home page, which now features a splashy ad for Ubuntu Linux PCs.

Cisco, Nortel, 3Com and other networking rivals are in a unified communications horse race. Most odds makers favor Cisco to win, with the rest of the field hoping to place or show. But a surprise entrant — one of the tech industry’s oldest names — could benefit most from unified communications.

The VAR Guy is in New York today, but for the second time in recent hours he’s got Canada on his mind. First, he noted that OnForce will soon extend its online marketplace to VARs in Canada. Now, he hears N-able — the MSP platform provider — is among Canada’s fastest-growing companies. But does that mean an IPO is around the corner?

Imagine if The Geek Squad had passports. Or if solutions providers could easily coordinate their efforts to build customer networks that span the US and Canada. That vision could soon become a reality if OnForce has its way.

Cisco Systems is finding creative ways to get TelePresence–its next-generation video conferencing technology–in front of reporters and customers. The end result: Positive buzz is growing across the tech industry, and Cisco insiders say TelePresence is on track to be among the company’s fastest-growing businesses this year.

A reader recently asked me for the exact specs of my Ubuntu PC, which I recently purchased from Dell. Here are the specs, but please note that I’m still waiting for the PC to arrive.

The market for secure managed services is filling up quickly. The latest entrant is Kaseya, with plenty of new rivals surfacing soon. VARs could have a tricky time picking and choosing between all the options.

While the world focuses on Apple’s iPhone launch, The VAR Guy is keeping a close eye on Apple’s server business–which should benefit from two small but significant announcements that few other pundits have noticed.