The VAR Guy

One week after Intel Developer Forum 2011 and we’re still getting news from the event. Intel has been steadily growing its solid state storage offerings, and its latest iteration of SSDs have been outfitted with features that Intel believes will meet the most demanding data center requirements. Storage VARs serving massive data centers might want to read on. Intel’s platter-less drives are starting to make The VAR Guy’s head spin …

The third and final day of Intel Developer Forum 2011 saw the chip giant shift its focus from its Ultrabook mobility strategy to its more forward-looking energy-saving technologies including a solar-powered Pentium-class processor concept, baked-in-chip capabilities to boost JavaScript performance, a super-high capacity Hybrid Memory Cube, and the rise of multi-core computing. Here’s the scoop on Intel CTO Justin Rattner’s keynote.

As The VAR Guy himself is starting to see, this time of year gets really busy for your friendly neighborhood blog team when it comes to industry conferences and events. So it’s really no surprise that in the span of two weeks, I attended both the Salesforce.com Dreamforce ’11 (details on Talkin’ Cloud) and Intel Developer Forum 2011 events. Both involved ISVs, SIs and other channel pros converging on the Moscone Center in San Francisco, but the events couldn’t have been more different.

The second day of the Intel Developer Forum 2011 was given over entirely to a deep dive on the Ultrabook strategy, with Intel VP and GM of the PC Client Group Mooly Eden taking the stage to give attendees a closer look at concepts teased the day before. Microsoft even stopped by with a brief update on how existing applications can play nicely in the new Windows 8 playground.

What else can I say but, “whew!” Your humble correspondent has been beaten into the ground by the whirlwind that was Intel Developer Forum 2011 Day 1, which turned out to be a nonstop tour of announcements, pronouncements and, inevitably, hype.

No doubt, holding Microsoft Windows BUILD at the same time as Intel Developer Forum 2011 caused a dilemma for channel pros who’ve partnered up with both companies. But there was a surprise in my IDF goodie bag that’s potentially good news for the Microsoft partners in attendance: the promise of free Windows Server 8 preview and development kits at the Microsoft booth. But you’ll have to be fast — there are only 100 download codes to go around.

Remember MeeGo? It was the love child between Nokia and Intel’s respective mobile OS technologies, and was supposed to be the future of netbooks and smartphones alike. But a new rumor suggests that it’s likely dead, despite Intel denying it.

Intel is branching out into the governmental vertical with launch of the Intel Federal LLC, designed to help Intel work directly with the government and fuel the supercomputing needs of the nation. But is there room to play for the channel? Read on for the details …

Michael Capellas (pictured) is widely known as chairman and CEO of VCE — the virtual computing environment company funded mostly by Cisco Systems and EMC, with some help from Intel and VMware. But if you check the VCE website, the Capellas bio lists him as Chairman — with no mention of the CEO role in his VCE title or VCE biography. Hmmm… It could be a simple oversight on VCE’s part. But The VAR Guy has heard rumors about executive changes and potential staff changes in recent weeks.

The VAR Guy continues to hear from partners who suggest VCE — the startup funded mainly by Cisco Systems and EMC — is undergoing a reorganization. A spokeswoman for VCE on August 15 said company officials were traveling for the next two days and were not available for immediate comment. The VAR Guy estimates EMC, Cisco and other investors have lost a combined $228 million on the VCE effort so far — though an EMC SEC filing suggests “momentum continues to build” for VCE. Here’s a look at The VAR Guy’s math… and VCE’s importance to channel partners.

The VAR Guy is on the road again, this time on the left coast at the inaugural AMD Fusion Developer Summit in Bellevue, Wash. During his six-plus hours on a WiFi-less flight (hey Delta, what gives?) with little to do but get caught up on the latest DVD releases and win at Scrabble for iPad, our resident blogger had lots of time to start thinking about where AMD – and its channel – are headed.

The titans of the tech industry are turning profits. Intel and IBM are off to a great 2011, with Q1 earnings bolstered by Intel’s chip proliferation and IBM’s systems strategies. Read on for the numbers…

Tablets, like any other technology, is subject to increasing consumer demands for devices that push the envelope. Intel’s new Atom CPU, designed specifically for mobile tablet devices, offers “smaller, thinner, fanless” technology, according to the company, as well as some new integrated goodies. Read on for the details.

Did someone say “catfight”? The VAR Guy hears one starting up. In its most forceful tone, HP is decrying Oracle’s move away from making software that works with Intel’s Itanium CPUs. HP calls the move “anti-customer,” and even Intel sees the move as a bit extreme. So what’s behind Oracle’s decision, and how will this impact the industry at large? Read on for some perspective …

Not too long ago, we detailed AMD’s plans for its new Advanced Processing Unit, or APU. We saw it as a counter to Intel’s mobile platform. Now AMD is boasting that its APU is gaining ground and being used in leading ODMs’ (original device manufacturers) designs for high-definition systems. What does that mean for the channel? Check it out …

The VAR Guy can’t help but notice Lenovo’s and Intel’s combined effort in the education space. The two vendors have come out with the Classmate+ PC, an all-purpose laptop designed specifically for the K-8 space. It’s being hailed as rugged, affordable, ‘child-friendly’ and ‘complete,’ all positives for education-focused technology. So far, The VAR Guy is intrigued. Read on for the specs …

Following the news of Intel’s consolidation of its partner program comes a move by AMD to simplify its own partner program, with a focus on embedded systems (again) — a similar focus to Intel’s move with EPDS 3.0. The VAR Guy loves competition, and the processor space certainly could use a little shaking up. So what does AMD have up its sleeve? Read on for the details …

Amid the consumer electronic buzz and excitement at Intel Solutions Summit 2011 in Las Vegas, The VAR Guy found a solid gold chip of channel news. Feb. 28, 2011, marked the first day of Intel’s new Technology Provider Program, which aims to consolidate the once separate Intel Channel Partners (system builders and integrators) and Intel Technology Providers (branded resellers) into one family, all under the moniker of Intel Technology Providers. The VAR Guy wonders, Is this a good idea for the channel? Read on for some perspective …

The VAR Guy is amped up at the Intel Solutions Summit 2011. Things are getting bigger and better yet smaller and faster, and ISVs have seemingly never had a better time to strike while the iron is hot. A sea change is about to occur in the hardware space, and The VAR Guy believes the channel is poised to take full advantage of the new technologies.

Intel’s Solutions Summit 2011 gets under way Feb. 27 at the Venetian Hotel in Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada — a venue The VAR Guy knows well. This year’s event is to sure to have something for everyone, and while our resident blogger is no gambler, he’s willing to bet Intel will have an ace or two up its sleeve.

It’s called Thunderbolt, and it was developed by Intel with some significant backing from other industry players. “But I just got used to USB 3.0,” you say? Well look alive, son. Thunderbolt promises twice the speed of USB 3.0 — 10 Gbps, to be exact. That’s why Apple just put Thunderbolt in its new MacBook Pros. And unlike USB, that’s promised bandwidth, not theoretical. Here are the details …

Intel is aiming to be part of the cloud frontier with its new free unified networking technology that will enable data center traffic to run over one single cable. Translation? Consolidation of cable equipment and infrastructure. Read on for some implications for MSPs and VARs managing their data centers …

The VAR Guy is feeling a bit stung this evening. Maybe it’s the cold weather. Maybe it’s lack of sleep. Either way, our resident blogger is in catch-up mode. So here are six channel partner blog entries The VAR Guy didn’t find time to write for the week ending January 14, 2011.