Business users buy Macs–with their own dough

It’s not news that almost anything Apple is hot  (iTunes hate notwithstanding). What is news is who’s buying this Apple gear and for what purpose.

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VCE boosts distribution

Our good buddies at The Virtual Computing Environment Co., last week added four distributors – Arrow, Avnet, Ingram Micro and Magirus–to its channel roster. that means a VCE VAR selling Vblocks can source all the component pieces–from Cisco, from EMC, from VMware–from one source whereas in the past that order might have involved any number of those vendors or distribution partners. Continued »

Tech CEOs on the hot seat

There are some prominent executive fannies on some very hot seats right now. And calls for change at the top of high-tech giants are getting hard to ignore.

So … which high-tech CEO should go first? A table full of VARs discussed this topic at a recent conference and the very non-scientific consensus was that the two execs in the most trouble are Cisco Systems’ John Chambers and Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer. The next question was: “who goes first?”  The still-very-unscientific consensus? Ballmer. Continued »

HP CEO forecast cuts kick up ruckus

Many Hewlett-Packard VARs are not enamored of the company’s new CEO and have been vocal—if not attributable—in their view that he is not “the” guy to run HP. Most of those VARs were fans of the previous CEO, Mark Hurd.

Depending on your point of view, Hurd managed the company—or Wall Street’s perceptions of the company—magnificently. Those are two very different accomplishments. Continued »

Super Show of Technology Expo XXXVI — Top five takeaways

GREEN BAY, WI. — Rick Chernick sure knows how to throw a good expo.

Chernick, the CEO of Camera Corner / Connecting Point, brought several hundred of his best friends–customers AND vendors–here to hear about the latest and greatest in technology.

CCCP’s Super Show of Technology Expo XXXVI combines two great attributes. First, there was pertinent information  — sessions on desktop virtualization, IP telephony, converged infrastructure – that customers need. Second, it was fun which, face it, everyone needs.

Here are the top five takeaways from this event–there’s a lot of stuff here that useful to any business owner.

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Microsoft tells partners to register Office 365 customers

Microsoft is starting to talk more about Office 365 partner opportunities

Microsoft channel guy Jon Roskill blogged today:

“The Office 365 beta now enables partners to sign up customers for the beta and register themselves as the Partner of Record.  This feature allows you to get your customers up and running on the Office 365 beta, and to continue to build relationships with them as they move to trial and purchase. A partner of record designation also provides initial advisor fees for each purchase, and perpetual fees for each seat continuing to run Office 365.” Continued »

What’s up with Cisco?

VARs want to know what’s up with Cisco Systems.

Cisco’s decision to axe its Flip digital video camera business two years after spending $600 million on it strikes many VARs, including those on the SearchITChannel.com channel advisory board, as an indication of big problems. Continued »

Doug Burgum wants to bring Great Plains model to health care

Doug Burgum, the guy behind Great Plains Software and who spearheaded the Microsoft Business Solutions ERP-and-CRM push, is still in software, but is attacking a new opportunity. Continued »

Ex-Oracle CFO heads for Infor?

Little birdies say that Jeff Epstein, who yesterday resigned as Oracle CFO, is heading to Infor.

You would probably know Infor if you’re in mid-market ERP and/or follow Charles Phillips, the former Oracle president who left Oracle last summer as Mark Hurd swept in. Phillips became CEO of–you guessed it–Infor!!

Infor is known for acquiring companies–mostly in the accounting and ERP software realms– and their products, thus buying into existing revenue streams. The Infor Wikipedia entry lists nearly 30 acquisitions–of Agilisys, GEAC, MAPICs etc.– in the past nine years.

UPDATE:  GGC Software Holdings, an Infor ”affiliate,” is trying to buy Lawson Software, one of the few remaining independent ERP providers. Coincidence with this Epstein-goes-to-Infor talk? Hmmmm.

Let us know what you think about the story; email Barbara Darrow, Senior News Director at bdarrow@techtarget.com.

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Oracle CFO resigns

Jeff Epstein has resigned as Oracle Corp.’s CFO. Continued »