The VAR Guy

If you don’t know by now, I’m a hardcore Apple fan, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think for myself. I said back in September 2010 that the BlackBerry Playbook looked like the first true tablet contender to Apple’s iPad. Fast forward to the present and RIM has impressed me again with some updates. Part of that killer Playbook package includes Flash support, but what’s more — much faster rendering times for web pages. Here’s the update.

Cisco and VMware are joining forces to provide a virtual desktop solution with “channel initiatives” to help accelerate Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) deployments. The plan is based on Cisco’s Unified Computing System and VMware View 4.5. Will the incentives attract more channel partners to the VDI discussion? Read on for the details…

Astaro CEO Jan Hichert says the security appliance maker is enjoying strong growth in 2010. Astaro’s claim to fame is best-of-breed security applications deployed on Linux appliances. So where do channel partners fit into the Astaro strategy? Read on for the game plan…

The i’s are dotted, the t’s are crossed, and the merger between data center service provider SoftLayer and hosting specialist The Planet is finalized. The combined companies, known as SoftLayer, are now merging operations into a single business. Here are the potential implications for channel partners and customers.

Canonical has made a lot of headlines lately as it pushes desktop Ubuntu in uncharted directions.  Lest the company’s commitment to the server market be questioned, however, it recently announced a partnership with Convirture for delivering enterprise-grade virtualization infrastructure based on Ubuntu.  Here’s the scoop, and why it matters.

How should you adjust your managed services pricing strategies for 2011? Find the answer today (Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 2:00 p.m. eastern) during our MSPmentor Live webcast. Two top MSPs will share at least five managed services pricing tips while answering dozens of attendee questions. Here’s a closer look at our guest speakers and the what we’ll cover.

In early October 2010 I blogged about Data Robotics’ Drobo Pro FS solution. Now, Data Robotics is back for an encore — involving a new product called the Drobo S and a very big channel partner — namely, Hewlett-Packard. Here are the details.

Lenovo has launched the IdeaPad U260, calling it the world’s “First 12.5 inch ultraportable consumer laptop” with a 16:9 screen and a slim form factor. What are the specs, how sexy is it — and is Lenovo actively channeling and/or going after Apple? Read on for my analysis…

As The VAR Guy has been hinting for the past few weeks, Nine Lives Media Inc. — the creative team behind this Website — is heads-down on something new. What exactly is it? This new, 24-second video provides the latest clues…

How can VARs access, track and leverage special bid pricing promotions on selected IT products? Tech Data believes it has found a solution to that age-old question. The distributor has launched a so-called bid pricing tool on TechData.com that strives to ensure SMB resellers receive highly competitive IT pricing. Here are the details.

IBM has lined up 15 European partners for a cloud computing research initiative. How will North American channel partners potentially benefit from cloud computing experiments performed on the other side of The Big Pond? Hmmm… Here’s some speculation from the VAR Guy.

IT infrastructure giant EMC Corp. is buying storage specialist Isilon for approximately $2.25 billion. The deal should be finished by the end of the calendar year, and will see Isilon act as an independent subsidiary of EMC. Here are some details.

The rumors were true. Facebook has announced “Project Titan,” a webmail client designed to take on Google’s Gmail service. The product, as revealed, gives users a “social inbox” to provide what Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg calls a “modern messaging system.” While it’s not an enterprise-ready solution, Facebook makes a compelling case for the future of the inbox. Here’s how.

Avnet Technology Solutions is doubling down on its Oracle channel strategy. Specifically, the value-added distributor has shifted Oracle guru Mike Hurst from an Americas role to a global role. Plus, Chris Swahn fills Hurst’s previous role, moving into the GM and VP post for Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas’ Oracle Solutions group. Here’s the update.

Sponsored Guest Blog: Many small businesses are moving toward the Mac platform, and it’s about more than simply having cool, sleek computers sitting on desks. Macs are solid, reliable products, especially for small-business owners who are inherently busy and don’t have a lot of time or resources committed to IT support. However, as Mac usage increases within the small-business community, so does the size of the target for cybercriminals. Here’s why.

Everybody, it seems, is gunning for Google these days. You already know about the forthcoming Microsoft Office 365 initiative. But have you heard the rumor about Facebook taking Gmail? Here’s a recap of some of the chatter The VAR Guy’s been hearing and reading — and what it could mean for the channel.

In an ideal world, free-software developers would happily get along and cooperate towards the same ends. But the world’s far from perfect, as rising tensions between the Ubuntu and Fedora camps have made clear recently in the wake of the founding a new website intended, ironically, to promote “respect” within the open-source ecosystems.

IBM has completed its buyout of Netezza, a data warehousing and analytics specialist that has an established channel partner program. IBM is expected to position Netezza against Oracle’s Exadata storage server business. Here are the potential implications for solutions providers.

As part of their never-ending cloud user drive, Google has updated the Google Apps Migration for Lotus Notes and Google Calendar Connector for Lotus Notes tools. Translation: Google is aggressively targeting the Lotus Notes installed base. In addition to a simpler interface, the updated solutions add improvements to things like security and BlackBerry support.

Two weeks into November and Intel has already embraced the Season of Giving. Specifically, the chip giant is cutting prices on solid state drives (SSDs). Read on for the SSD discount details and why VARs and channel partners should care…

Apple and Oracle are joining forces for OpenJDK Project for Mac OS X. The move could give peace of mind to developers focused on cross-platform Mac, Linux and PC support. Here are some quick details.

The VAR Guy was off the road this week — heads down working on a not-so-secret project. Juggling a daily blog plus research and development isn’t easy. So, here’s a look at the six channel partner blog entries The VAR Guy didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending November 12, 2010.

Joining the ranks of other IT vendors that recognize the value of a good education, Brocade is moving away from rewarding its channel partners based on volume toward a compensation model based on skill sets. Here’s a look at the strategy.