The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy is testing Utterz, a voice application designed with mobile podcasts in mind. Using any cell phone, you dial the Utterz number and leave a message. Then, the message is published to your blog or selected Web sites. Utterz (www.utterz.com) seems cool but The VAR Guy doesn’t know if he’ll use it for business. Click on the yellow arrow below to listen in.

Dell today sent a letter to managed service providers. The dispatch provides MSPs with an update on Dell’s partner strategy. Give it a read by visiting our sister site, MSPmentor.

The VAR Guy met a bunch of other bloggers this weekend at a small convention in Dallas. While there, he somehow got locked in a fun debate with another attendee. The topic … Which system ruled the home PC market in the early 1980s: The Atari 800 or the Commodore 64?

One of The VAR Guy’s favorite web sites is IdeaStorm, a Dell-run forum where readers share business and technology ideas, vote for their favorite reader concepts, and interact with Dell. IdeaStorm has been a huge hit with Dell customers and critics alike. Now, Dell may build a similar site for partners, solutions providers and managed service providers, The VAR Guy has learned.

The VAR Guy just got off the phone with Dell Channel Chief Greg Davis. Our resident blogger and Dell’s top partner executive discussed the company’s partner program, which launched in December 2007. So, how are things going so far? Here are some quick clues.

The following blog entry is not intended to criticize those who are overweight. Rather, it’s meant as an open letter to all of America: If the portly among us don’t start losing some weight (The VAR Guy included), we may wind up grounding our airlines. Here’s why.

Red Hat’s annual revenues now top $520 million, according to financial results released today, and the company is charting a course to $1 billion. Sounds wonderful. But there’s a bigger story here: Red Hat’s financial momentum will pave the way for more open source IPOs.

Healthy competition is good for technology companies — and good for their customers. But The VAR Guy is starting to wonder if Dell is too obsessed with Hewlett-Packard. Let him explain.

The VAR Guy wasn’t looking for love, but he found it during a trip to his local CostCo last night. There, he spotted the $299 Eee PC from Asus. It’s built on Linux — but CostCo’s in-store promotional materials for the device barely mention Linux. That may be a smart move. Here’s why.

The VAR Guy is packing up and heading to Austin, Texas, to meet with Dell’s channel chief on March 28. During the chat with  Greg Davis, VP of commercial channels, our resident blogger plans to raise numerous questions. But here are the top 5 on his mind.