The VAR Guy

Meow. Microsoft and IBM have resumed their 15-year-old email cat fight — only days before IBM kicks off Lotusphere 2010. Microsoft is promoting free training and three key channel partners — Binary Tree, CASAHL Technologies and Quest Software — to help customers migrate from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint. Here’s the scoop.

A Chinese group has created an Ubuntu Linux clone that looks, um, just like Windows XP. Two big questions: First, do customers want a Linux release — called Ylmf OS — that looks like Windows? Second, is Microsoft willing to allow a group of Ubuntu renegades to mimic Windows XP’s look and feel? Hmmm…

Is Dell serious about cloud computing? Ask Barton George (pictured). He joined the computing giant in August and now serves as Dell’s cloud computing evangelist. And… George also happens to have close relationships with Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux. Here’s the scoop.

Ubuntu Linux is now available on Panasonic Toughbooks — those rugged devices typically found in harsh environments and vertical markets like health care, transportation, real estate and insurance. But this blog entry comes with a twist — care of EmperorLinux, a system reseller in Atlanta, Georgia. Here’s the scoop.

Dell’s Linux strategy includes close relationships with Red Hat, Novell, Canonical and Intel, among others. But during my June 26 visit to Dell, we shifted our attention to Dell’s consumer Linux strategy, which mostly involves netbooks and PCs running Ubuntu. I captured portions of the conversation — including Dell’s early thoughts on Moblin (Mobile Linux) — in this vodcast…

Unison Communications — which develops unified communications software on Centos, Ubuntu and Red Hat Linux — is preparing to launch a partner program within the next few weeks, The VAR Guy learned during VoiceCon. Here are the early details.

Imagine you are Mark Shuttleworth. You run Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux. You’re eager to line up more independent software vendors (ISVs) and server partners. Meanwhile, Michael “Monty” Widenius — one of MySQL’s founders — has resigned from Sun Microsystems. Hmmm. The VAR Guy thinks Shuttleworth needs to dial Monty and say “Let’s Make a Deal.” Here’s why.

Unison Technologies, with an assist from Canonical and Ubuntu Linux, says it is “launching a major threat to Microsoft Exchange.” Hmmm. The VAR Guy has heard similar grandstanding before from a range of companies. But Unison has caught our resident blogger’s attention a few times. Here’s why.

The VAR Guy woke up this morning and realized he needed a fresh start with Microsoft. For almost two years, our resident blogger has noted 10 mistakes Microsoft made with Windows Vista, and 10 ways to fix the situation. The VAR Guy ultimately jumped to Ubuntu Linux in mid-2007. But now — as Microsoft gears up for Windows 7 — it’s time for our resident blogger to reengage with the software giant. Here’s why.

Businesses are catching on to Ubuntu, Canonical’s Linux distribution. The latest example: Gameloft, a major mobile games developer, has moved more than 1,000 desktops to Ubuntu, according to a source who reached out to The VAR Guy. But Gameloft isn’t alone. The VAR Guy’s research is tracking hundreds of companies moving to Ubuntu. Here’s the scoop.

The VAR Guy is blushing. Earlier this evening he was researching companies that run Ubuntu Linux on servers and desktops. Soon, he stumbled across an intriguing Ubuntu case study involving a company called T & A Lingerie. That’s when the fun started…

In an email to The VAR Guy, Lenovo Senior VP J. Scott Di Valerio describes the PC giant’s evolving Linux strategy, including plans for so-called NetBooks that will launch in October. Here’s a look at what Di Valerio had to say.

Barton George, one of the best-known open source evangelists at Sun Microsystems, has left the company. He sent a note to a group of sources — including The VAR Guy — on Sept. 5 indicating that he’s joining a cloud-based computing company in Austin, Texas. Kudos to George, but The VAR Guy has to wonder: Are things growing worse at Sun?

The next time somebody tells you Ubuntu Linux is just for the desktop, check out Egressive Limited, a solutions provider in New Zealand that’s gaining traction in the Ubuntu Server market. In fact, all of Egressive’s support customers now have Ubuntu servers at the center of their networks, and Egressive uses Ubuntu exclusively as the company’s hosting system. Is this part of a bigger “hidden” trend? The VAR Guy sure seems to think so. Here’s why.

The VAR Guy has been researching the unified communications market in recent weeks. And he’s stumbled across an interesting trend: More and more open source startups are pushing into the unified communications market. Here are four prime examples:

In an effort to rally solutions providers around Ubuntu Linux, Canonical is telling resellers that 11 percent of U.S. businesses already run Ubuntu. That’s impressive, but when will VARs truly jump on the Ubuntu bandwagon? Here are some clues from The VAR Guy.

The final numbers are in. During Installfest at this week’s LinuxWorld Expo, Untangle and its partners put Ubuntu Linux on 750 aging PCs that now run like new. The Installfest was a win for school budgets, kids and the environment. And the event proved — in a small way — that Linux can be a key tool that helps close the digital divide.

Untangle is scheduled to host an Ubuntu Linux Installfest from Aug. 4 to 7 at LinuxWorld Expo in San Francisco. This latest Installfest, coupled with recent moves by Canonical and Intel made The VAR Guy wonder: Can Ubuntu Linux close the digital divide?

The VAR Guy was making one last trip around the exhibitor booths at OSCON (Open Source Convention), when he ran into a rather interesting rumor: Canonical is working with hardware partners and application developers to launch Ubuntu Linux server appliances at LinuxWorld Expo in August.

Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Canonical and Ubuntu, delivered the keynote address at OSCON this evening. Here’s a recap of his presentation, which explored how free software can drive innovation — and how the Linux desktop has to become a piece of art that leapfrogs Apple within two years.

Canonical CEO and Ubuntu Linux backer Mark Shuttleworth will step into the spotlight July 22, when he keynotes OSCON (Open Source Convention) in Portland, Oregon. It will be a critical moment for Shuttleworth and the Ubuntu movement. Here’s why.

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.

Sun Microsystems is taking a pounding on Wall Street today. Weak financial results stunned investors, and CEO Jonathan Schwartz’s strategy to transform the company will surely come under fire. Is there hope for Sun? The VAR Guy seems to think so. Here’s why.