The VAR Guy

As a nearly full-time Linux user, it can be frustrating when exciting new hardware comes out. My enthusiasm is often squelched when I find out that the new device offers no support for my beloved OS of choice, Ubuntu.

When Sun announced a major open source initiative targeting small and midsize businesses this week, a lot of people failed to realize that Sun would include servers certified for Ubuntu. Here’s the scoop, from our sister site, The VAR Guy (www.thevarguy.com).

Ubuntu Linux is moooovin’ on up in the Linux server neighborhood. When Sun announced a major open source initiative targeting small and midsize businesses this week, a lot of people failed to realize that Sun would include servers certified for Ubuntu. Here’s the scoop.

As The VAR Guy reflects on the latest news out of BrainShare, one number sticks in his head: More than 700 partners — representing ISVs, integrators, consultants, VARs, etc. — are at the event. Not a bad showing. The VAR Guy connected with Novell’s Channel Chief, Pat Bernard, for more perspective. Here are five key takeaways from the conversation.

Rest in peace, Arthur C. Clarke. Thank you for sharing your imagination and innovations with us. May you dream forever.

Forgive The VAR Guy if he says “I told you so.” Earlier this month he predicted that Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — would win a global distribution deal. He was right. Specific details about the news, involving Digium — one of the top Asterisk companies — emerged today. Here’s the scoop.

Novell didn’t deliver any home-run news during BrainShare on March 17, but the software company did manage to smack a few solid singles during the day. Overall, the buzz from Utah sounded pretty upbeat. Here’s a look at Monday’s developments, and The VAR Guy’s take on the situation.

The VAR Guy is sickened by Bear Stearns’ fall from grace. But even worse, look at this video of Jim Cramer from March 11.Pathetic. Now, let’s look at six key lessons from the Bear Stearns Debacle.

Here we go.

Former Novell CEO Ray Noorda used to speak about coopetition — the need to both cooperate and compete with technology companies. But the current Microsoft-Novell relationship is giving new meaning to the term coopetition, especially during this week’s BrainShare.

At the big VoiceCon conference in Orlando this week, just about every vendor is evangelizing some sort of “unified communications” solution to attendees. Alas, many of these solutions are nothing more than recycled voice-over-IP offerings backed by new marketing spins. But The VAR Guy sees some hope amid all this unified communications hype.

The VAR Guy will be leaving New York and heading into enemy territory this June 18, when Red Hat hosts a media party at Fenway Park in Boston. Can our resident blogger — a “Native New Yawker” — put aside his distaste for Red Sox Nation long enough to generate some unbiased coverage of Red Hat? Before you answer, here’s a little more background on the situation.

Having multiple computers can be a blessing when trying to multi-task, but trying to control them all at once can take a lot of room. Hardware options are available. They are called KVMs, which is short for keyboard, video, and mouse switches. However these hardware options require a constant hardware connection. This makes it impractical for laptops, or when substituting the KVM for the real keyboard/mouse/screen set up is not desired.

I recently described how I came to purchase a Sager NP2092, after searching high and low for a laptop that would meet my requirements. Now, I’d like to share some first impressions about the laptop, upon which I’ve installed Ubuntu.

When the next version of Ubuntu Linux ships in April, there’s a reasonable chance that server vendors could start jumping on the Ubuntu bandwagon by May or so, according to our sister Web site, www.thevarguy.com. And if Ubuntu gains server traction, it could move more easily into the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry.

When the next version of Ubuntu Linux ships in April, there’s a reasonable chance that server vendors could start jumping on the Ubuntu bandwagon by May or so. Here’s the scoop.

It’s an election year, and The VAR Guy is starting to sound like a politician waffling on a key issue. He’s been hyping Microsoft Dynamics in posts. But another blogger raises the possibility that Dynamics ain’t so hot. Here’s the scoop.

Red Hat will need to walk a fine line in the middleware market. Even as the open source company continues to build its channel, Red Hat today opened its wallet to acquire a middleware consulting firm that specializes in JBoss applications.

Let’s turn off the tech coverage for a moment. The VAR Guy has a question for you. As a new media blogger, he delivers more than his share of gossip. But should traditional newspapers dish dirt — or stick to the hard news — related to outgoing New York Governor Eliot Spitzer? Before you answer, check out this Google Adwords advertisement, apparently placed by a top US newspaper to promote “gossip” about the Spitzer scandal.

Intel’s new Silverthorne and Diamondville processors are due to be released sometime during the second quarter of this year, according to this article on Computerworld. The chips are built and specialized to run Linux.

At first glance, Novell’s desktop Linux goals are humble. Novell insiders tell The VAR Guy they’d be pleased if SuSE Linux eventually captures 1 percent of the overall global desktop market. So, how is Novell’s desktop strategy performing so far — especially vs. Red Hat and Ubuntu? Here are key clues from two top Novell sources on the subject.

Seven years after Microsoft spent $1.1 billion to buy Great Plains Software, that acquisition is finally paying some major dividends. The latest example: Electronic Data Systems (EDS) has agreed to sell, service and support Microsoft Dynamics — the next generation of Great Plains’ software. EDS’s backing is the latest in a growing list of key endorsements for Dynamics.

One of The VAR Guy’s loyal readers suggested that his recent blogs have become a bit too serious. So, it’s time to lighten… with a game of Simon.

Enjoy!

VoiceCon kicks off March 17 in Orlando. But tech vendors are getting a jump on the event with unified communications announcements this week. Here are seven unified communication trends that will emerge at the show, The VAR Guy predicts.