The VAR Guy

Microsoft is scheduled to bury Windows XP today — basically forcing Windows customers to buy Vista instead. Yet, Dell’s channel blog actually has the guts to show VARs how to continue offering XP to customers. Don’t underestimate the significance of Dell’s move.

The Ubuntu Developer channel has been launched on YouTube. The channel features videos about developing for Ubuntu. Currently, there are several videos featuring the current Ubuntu Developer Summit. The Ubuntu Developer Summit (UDS) is where Ubuntu developers and contributors get together to discuss the next version of Ubuntu soon to be in development. This release, the UDS is being held in Prague, where the developers and community leaders will discuss Ubuntu 8.10, codename Intrepid Ibex.

Previously, I introduced my theory of the Difficulty Divide. It’s a concept that I’ve used for several years when talking about why I use Linux, and why some people may give up on it. I also promised that I would present on how I’ve modified it in recent years to reflect the current state of things. Before I do that though, I think some clarification is in order.

PartnerPedia — a new social network for solutions providers and VARs — is set to launch in July, though an official launch date is yet to be announced. The VAR Guy got a preview on June 26. Here’s his take on the social networking site, with a few hints on who it compares to OnForce, LinkedIn and other options.

When Cisco Systems launched its Unified Communications strategy, the networking company worked overtime to educate partners about the market opportunities ahead. But Cisco’s Data Center 3.0 strategy will depend far more heavily on guidance from established partners, notes Wendy Bahr, VP of Channels for US and Canada.

Time and distance prevented The VAR Guy from attending the 2008 Cisco Partner Summit in Hawaii. But The VAR Guy won’t have any excuses for skipping the 2009 Cisco Partner Summit, which will be held June 1-4 in Boston, our resident blogger has learned.

The VAR Guy is always looking for a bargain. And he just spotted one. The ASUS Eee PC — that little Linux laptop — is going on sale. Here’s the scoop.

Forget rising gas prices. The VAR Guy’s biggest expense continues to be his excessive spending on all things related to Steve Jobs. And this weekend, he’ll likely spend another $100 on something that Steve Jobs helped to create. (Hint: It isn’t from Apple.)

Whether you’re an established or aspiring managed service provider, time is running out to register for MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange. The Webcast, hosted by our sister site MSPmentor, starts at 2pm eastern today (Wednesday, June 25).

Novell is making The VAR Guy look pretty darn foolish. Our resident blogger keeps hyping Red Hat and Ubuntu Linux, yet Novell keeps scoring small victories and picking up momentum. The latest example: Micro-Star International (MSI) has agreed to pre-load Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 on MSI’s mini-notebooks. Here’s the scoop.

Move over, John Chambers. Apparently, Forrester Research has spotted your future replacement — Jane Chambers — at the Cisco Live conference in Orlando. Here’s the scoop, and the video evidence to go with it.

The VAR Guy has been hyping TelePresence — that next-gen videoconferencing technology — for nearly two years. But is anyone (outside of Cisco Systems Inc.’s own offices) actually using TelePresence? You bet. Here are nine key data points to consider.

The VAR Guy didn’t always agree with George Carlin. But he loved him.

Is Dell facing a partner revolt? Not really. But a few VARs allege that customers who buy direct from Dell receive better pricing than solutions providers. Now, Dell has a memo to help communicate its pricing policies to partners. Here’s a look.

Whether you’re an established or aspiring managed service provider, time is running out to register for this Wednesday’s MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange Webcast. The event is hosted by our sister site, MSPmentor.

My brother-in-law wants to buy his daughter a cost-effective laptop for her 13th birthday. As I made my recommendations, I realized the terrible bind consumers currently face. He’s frustrated with Windows, too price sensitive to buy a MacBook and vaguely familiar with Linux. Here’s where the conversation went, and how you can help his decision process.

The VAR Guy has a theory: Sure, thousands of Microsoft partners are seeking to host Exchange Server, Dynamics and SharePoint. But, our resident blogger believes, a good portion of the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry is going open source. First, Linux became popular for hosting applications. Now, open source applications like SugarCRM are increasingly shifting to the SaaS model.

The VAR Guy quit his day job in December 2007, and called in a few favors to launch this Web site in January 2008. He’s been dressing down and blogging from his so-called home office (tucked away on Long Island’s Gold Coast) ever since. By eliminating his daily commute, you won’t believe how much money The VAR Guy has saved this year.

I run Ubuntu on my Dell desktop PC. But — for the sake of my commitment to this Web site — I’m ready to add Ubuntu to my Apple MacBook Pro notebook. I’m not an expert (yet) on virtualization options that will allow me to run Ubuntu and Mac OS X on my Mac. So, I’d welcome some thoughts on the two options I’m considering.

Maybe it’s time for The VAR Guy to put his Web site (and his LinkedIn Rolodex) up for sale. After all, the value of his house is plummeting faster than the fuel gage needle in his Hummer. And now there’s talk about a Web 2.0 Bubble. Say it ain’t so! (Then, take a minute to watch this video.)

Matt Asay, author of The Open  Road blog, is telling the world how Macs are replacing PCs at corporate meetings. But that’s not all, Asay notes. Check out this photo from the Missouri School of Journalism. Look at all those Macs. The Kids Are All Right! So, what does all this mean for Microsoft?

Okay, so the headline is a bit of an exaggeration. But here’s the upshot: FedEx — a major economic bellwether — just delivered horrible financial results, and nearly one-third of CEOs expect to make job cuts over the next few months. But OnForce, the online marketplace for IT service providers, is feeling pretty upbeat about business in North America. Here’s why.

While most major server vendors take a “wait and see” approach to Ubuntu, a major Canadian Web host says the server operating system is ready for prime time. Indeed, Cirrus Tech is now offering Ubuntu on its server hosting plans. Here’s a closer look at Cirrus Tech’s announcement, and the state of Ubuntu on the server.