The VAR Guy

Ah, even when he’s 35,000 feet in the air, The VAR Guy can’t escape from Dell channel news. While using inflight WiFi service, our resident blogger spotted these two small but important pieces of Dell PartnerDirect channel news.

The Web continues to buzz about Ubuntu 8.10′s launch. Here are a few links to some initial reviews/opinions about Canonical’s latest operating system launch.

• IT Channel Cast: Ubuntu 8.10, the Intrepid Ibex — Linux is ready for prime time!
• The Unofficial Apple Weblog: Installing Ubuntu 8.10 on a Mac
• Life Hacker: A user’s look at Ubuntu 8.10
• Daily Gyan: 10 things you should do immediately after installing Ubuntu 8.10
• HowtoForge: The Perfect Server, Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex (Ubuntu 8.10)

If you’ve seen other Ubuntu 8.10 reviews — especially server edition reviews — please post comments and links below.

Ricoh Americas Corporation has addded a Ricoh Independent Solutions Vendor Program (RiSVP) to its existing Alliance Program. You can find details here.

Wow, it’s never a good idea to do an upgrade to a Release Candidate when you depend on the machine in question for day to day operations… But I just couldn’t resist making the move to Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop Edition, code named Intrepid Ibex. Here are some of my initial reactions.

Rewind to 1996. Windows NT gained momentum around that time because Microsoft had clear marketing messages for both NT Server 4.0 and NT Workstation 4.0. Now, Canonical is embracing a similar strategy with the launch of Ubuntu 8.10 Server Edition and 8.10 Desktop Edition.

Is there room in the world for another mystery blogger? The VAR guy would say no, but Cisco disagrees. The company has launched a phantom blog site — called Tech Edge Weekly — written by “Ira Pumfkin” (pictured). Cute. But is there a point to the effort? Apparently so. The blog represents Cisco’s countdown to a major product launch. Here’s the scoop.

Whether you partner or compete with Microsoft, the company’s new cloud strategy — known as the Azure Services Platform — demands your attention. For solutions providers seeking to better understand Azure, check out the spin from MSPmentor.

When Lenovo de-emphasized Novell SUSE Linux on ThinkPads, some skeptics thought it was a serious setback for desktop Linux and Novell’s own open source efforts. The VAR Guy knew better. Fact is, Lenovo was bolstering its Novell relationship in two other areas. Here’s the scoop.

Google is working with three major IT consulting firms to launch an open source software blitz in Australia, The VAR Guy has learned. An event is planned for November 7 at Google’s Australia headquarters in Sydney. Details about the effort are still emerging but here’s the early scoop from The VAR Guy.

Digital signage remains a hot opportunity for VARs and integrators. But most digital signage systems are passive networks that push content out to plasma and LCD screens. So, what’s next for digital signage? The VAR Guy found the answer in Australia.

As The VAR Guy continues his tour of Australia, he’s hearing solutions providers express more and more concern about the global economy. However, our resident blogger was pleased to hear some upbeat channel news from the States. Specifically, one of the world’s top managed service providers — DirectPointe — disclosed record third quarter sales results. In this economy, every victory counts.

My day job revolves around early-modern European history, which I study in graduate school.  While most of my fellow graduate students know very much about obscure dead people, computers are generally not their forte: many of them remain unsure of the difference between Microsoft Word and Microsoft Windows, for example.

Roughly 30 percent of Netbook sales in Melbourne — Australia’s second-largest city — involve customers requesting Linux rather than Windows, according to Geek Central, a fast-growing solution provider that serves the region. Here’s the scoop and its global implications, from The VAR Guy.

Roughly seven weeks after Dell launched its PartnerDirect channel program in Australia, The VAR Guy has landed in the land down under. During his trip, our resident blogger interviewed Rob Makin,  director of channel strategy and acquisition for Dell Australia. Here’s the scoop.

Forgive The VAR Guy for saying it: But he told you so. A few months ago our resident blogger predicted Netbooks — the name for an emerging market of sub-notebooks — would increasingly shift to open source and put the squeeze on Microsoft. Fast forward to the present, and Microsoft is already feeling the heat from Netbooks. Here’s the scoop.

Microsoft has reached out to selected solutions providers in order to gain their feedback about a soon-to-be-launched software product in an emerging market. Hmmm. What could the software giant be up to? It involves so-called managed services software. Here’s the scoop.

Businesses don’t buy operating systems. They buy applications. With that fact in mind, Canonical is gradually expanding its online store for Ubuntu Linux applications. It’s a smart move — but solutions providers will need to keep their expectations for the store under control. Here’s why.

Even before Linux was created, Microsoft has been scorned by members of the free-software community.  Its products are decried as defective by design, and its sometimes questionable business practices as an obstacle to technological innovation.  That’s old news. What amazes me is Apple’s track record for openness is even worse than Microsoft’s.

Operating systems only thrive if they have vast application support. With that reality in mind, Canonical is gradually expanding its online store for third-party Ubuntu applications. Find details about the strategy on WorksWithU’s sister site, TheVARguy.com.

Hmmm. The VAR Guy senses something is up at Cisco Systems Inc. A trusted source says recently promoted Senior VP Chuck Robbins has traded in his Atlanta ZIP code for a residence much closer to Cisco’s San Jose headquarters. But that’s not all. It sounds like Cisco is making multiple key moves within its channel ranks. Here’s the apparent scoop, from The VAR Guy.

The VAR Guy thought Red Hat Exchange — an online store the software company launched last year — would be an overnight hit. It wasn’t. But after some tinkering, Red Hat Exchange (RHX) seems to be taking off — and giving partners like MySQL and Zimbra a lift as well. In fact, the site’s bookings doubled in Red Hat’s most recent quarter, The VAR Guy has learned. Here’s how Red Hat got RHX on track.

When asked what Symantec has learned from the 2005 Veritas acquisition — which under-performed expectations the first few years — Chief Operating Officer Enrique Salem described  three lessons.

Symantec Chief Operating Officer Enrique Salem says the company is weighing whether (or not) to replace former global channel chief Julie Parrish. Here are some options he’s mulling.