The VAR Guy

File this under the heading “Strange But True.” When you point your browser to http://iloveubuntu.com, you’re re-directed to a rather large software company’s Web site. Somebody is playing a game on Bill Gates. Just don’t blame me.

Sorry for this belated post. Here is the final part of our five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Some of the items are closely related to earlier portions of the list. Here we go…

Greetings and sorry I’ve been offline a few days due to extended travel. After the Ubuntu LIVE event in Portland, Oregon, I headed to the Cisco Networkers Live event in Anaheim, California. Now I’m in Las Vegas with about 1,000 VARs (value-added resellers) and integrators for the CompTIA Breakaway conference. While I’m here I’ll be sure to ask VARs if/how they’re embracing Ubuntu in their business practices. I know a few Asterisk resellers are here, but I don’t think Ubuntu has caught on yet in the channel — with the possible exception of the higher education market. More Ubuntu coverage from Vegas to follow this week.

Kaseya, the managed services platform provider, has some strong opinions about Dell’s decision to enter the MSP market by purchasing Silverback Technologies. Here’s Kaseya’s take on the situation, which the company shared via email with The VAR Guy. While downplaying the Dell-Silverback combo, Kaseya also plans to offer Silverback customers a special deal when they migrate to Kaseya’s managed services platform.

The VAR Guy is intrigued by Switchvox. The tiny, 15-person company has big plans to integrate Asterisk-based PBXes with open source CRM software. VARs that specialize in unified communications should check out Switchvox’s strategy.

When everyone zigs, The VAR Guy zags. Here’s a prime example: Most folks at the Cisco Networkers Live conference attended a private concert last night, headlined by KISS. The VAR Guy had his ticket in hand — but suddenly decided to head home instead.

The VAR Guy spoke with Switchvox CEO Joshua Stephens today about his company. But the conversation quickly switched from open source PBX telephony systems to hiring talent. Stephens is swamped with resumes from a growing group of nomads.

Don’t misunderstand The VAR Guy: The Linksys product brand remains alive and well, and Cisco remains committed to the Linksys product line. However, Cisco CEO John Chambers suggested that the Linksys brand “will become a Cisco brand over time” during a question-and-answer session on July 24. Plus, there’s talk of TelePresence gradually moving into the SMB market. Here’s the scoop.

Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers moments ago called on political leaders to develop a national broadband policy, which would help the United States close the digital divide and compete more effectively on a global scale. He also called on the United States to change its definition of broadband to 100Mbps connections.

Here’s the final part of The VAR Guy’s five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon.

Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers sounded particularly bullish today, when he addressed 10,000 partners and customers at the Networkers Live conference in Anaheim, Calif. Here are 10 key takeaways from his keynote.

Here’s part four of The VAR Guy’s five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 20-11.

If you were to track managed services on the traditional technology adoption curve, where would you place them? Hmmm. Let’s ask an MSP platform provider.

Here’s part four of The VAR Guy’s five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 20-11, with the final chapter of our list to follow soon…

Hewlett-Packard is shaking up the thin client market, but rival Wyse Technology doesn’t sound rattled. During a quick chat with The VAR Guy earlier today, Wyse CEO Tarkan Maner predicted HP’s decision to acquire thin-client specialist Neoware would send partners into Wyse’s welcoming arms.

Here’s part three of our five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 30-21.

Bummer. Hewlett-Packard’s Linux CTO, Bdale Garbee, didn’t show for his scheduled keynote session this morning at Ubuntu Live.

Here’s part two of our five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 40-31, with more to follow soon…

Here’s part three of The VAR Guy’s five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 30-21, with more to follow soon…

No, HP hasn’t announced plans to pre-install Ubuntu Linux on selected PCs. But the computing giant has scored a deal to provide up to 5,000 Ubuntu PCs to a major university, The VAR Guy hears.

Eager to try Ubuntu but not sure how to make the leap from Windows? Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is gearing up to assist you. Indeed, the company is preparing several new initiatives to help train Windows users on Ubuntu Linux. The training push will include technology managers, system builders, consumer and business users, and university students, according to Billy Cina, a training program manager at Canonical.

Marten Mickos, CEO of MySQL — the fast-growing open source database provider — believes Microsoft will remain complacent until the company’s bank account begins to shrink.

Hewlett-Packard, as you may have heard, has acquired thin-client specialist Neoware and data center automation specialist Opsware. The deals could generate incremental sales opportunities for HP’s partners.