Intel

OS choice for netbooks expands

First there was news that Hewlett-Packard, Dell and possibly other hardware makers would consider slapping Google Android on netbooks.

Last week, Intel said it’s jumping into the netbook OS market as well with Moblin, it’s own take on a Linux-based netbook OS. 

Continued »

Intel’s Barrett to step down

Craig Barrett will relinquish his day-to-day management activities at Intel in May, the chip giant said today on its web site.

Continued »

Vista-capable suit highlights PC power rifts

The class action suit filed over Microsoft’s discredited “Vista Capable” hardware claims has brought to light quite the sordid saga.

Continued »

Microsoft’s virtualization party

Microsoft wants customers and partners to know that it’s really, really REALLY ready to virtualize. So it’s hosting its “Get Virtual Now” event Monday.

It’s invited a few dozen of its best-friend vendors (if that’s not an oxymoron) to Bellevue for its big day.  Among the Platinum sponsors the usual suspects are well represented. Intel? Check. Dell? Hewlett-Packard? IBM? Hitachi Data Systems. Check, check, check and check. That makes sense. The server guys will claim their boxes are Hyper-V ready or Hyper-V capable or Hyper-V elite. Whatever the label is, it means little except in marketing terms.  (”Hey HP, what’s technologically different between this server today and your server last week? Nothing?” And so it goes.)

Continued »

WiMax’ rocky road

WiMax is having a rough life — and this week epitomizes that.

The wireless protocol for broadband access — known in long form as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access — started off the week on a high note. On Monday, six tech heavy hitters, including Cisco Systems, Samsung Electronics, Alcatel-Lucent, Intel, Sprint and Clearwire formed the Open Patent Alliance.

Continued »

Intel site aims to hook up ISVs, system builders

Intel’s newly launched Intel Business Exchange (that’s Intel BX to you) hopes to bring ISVs and system builders together in solution sale mode.

“We’re looking to make sure that ISVs who’ve enabled on our infrastructure have a path to market. We want to make sure their software is written for our architecture and match make them with our channel,” said Peter Elmgren, managing director of Intel Business Exchange.

The thrust is to make sure new software takes full advantage of the various threads and cores built into new Intel processors. The real, real thrust, is to help Intel move more silicon, but never mind that.

The exchange includes an online software store for the ISVs to display and sell their goods. The software will be certified by Spikesource to verify that it takes full advantage of the Intel chips and other infrastructure. (Intel announced its Certified Solutions Program in early April.)

Participating ISVs include AMI, Doculex, Everest, Fonality, Microsoft, Open-E, Salesforce.com, Symantec and Tripwire.

System builders and PC makers aboard include MPC Computers, a Nampa, Idaho and Equus Computer Systems, Minneapolis.

The exchange could be a good way for smaller computer makers to differentiate themselves, said Jay Masterson, server product marketing manager for MPC.

“We’re not a Dell and this is a different way for our name to crop up. It allows us to talk about our value proposition. Hardware has become pretty commoditized even in the server realm and storage is going that way. The way to differentiate is if we can offer bundled solutions.”

“Intel’s done a good job building an ecosystem. We take part and will parcel up some of these bundled solutions. We take the Intel motherboard and chassis and add our own goodness,” he said.

It’s unclear how much VARs or solution providers will benefit from this online foray although web surfers clicking on a storage or security solution are directed to a “get a quote” page which in turn funnels them to an approved solution provider.

Barbara Darrow can be reached at bdarrow@techtarget.com.

MSPAlliance launches first vendor accreditation program

As the MSPAlliance kicked off its fall managed services conference in San Jose, Calif., the organization announced the launch of its vendor accreditation program (VAP) for the managed services industry.

Designed by MSPs as a benchmark for vendors who sell to the MSP community, vendors that earn the VAP seal will have shown that they have positive channel practices, product research and development, financial stability and MSP customer satisfaction.   

“It is a benchmark system for MSPs to evaluate vendors,” said Charles Weaver, president of the MSPAlliance. “Vendors entering the program must have at least three MSP specific references and it’s basically a seal of approval for those vendors who have a specific interest in selling to the managed services global community,” Weaver added.   

Among those that have received accreditation under the new program are: Intel, SilverBack/Dell, Asigra, Untangle, XRoads Networks, LiveCargo and N-able. 

Citrix swallows XenSource

Citrix Systems, Inc. today announced that it will acquire XenSource, Inc., for $500 million – a move that will catapult the company into the server and desktop virtualization market.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company said the purchase will be a combination of cash and stock, which includes the assumption of $107 million in unvested stock options. The deal should be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Continued »

Red Hat to develop cheap Linux for developing nations, U.S. market

Red Hat announced today that it will be releasing a desktop Linux distribution, named Global Desktop that is designed for small businesses and local governments in developing nations.

The announcement was one of several it made at the Red Hat Summit conference, which started today in San Diego, including a partnership with IBM under which Red Hat Linux will run on System Z mainframes.

Red Hat also announced a partnership with Intel Corp. under which Red Hat would develop systems-management software that would allow customers to create “virtual appliances” to add security or manageability to networks with systems running Intel vPro processors – which are designed to provide security functions such as remote systems monitoring and reboot that are built into the chips on a PC rather than in software that runs on top of the OS.

The more egalitarian Global Desktop will be distributed exclusively through whitebox OEM systems builders using Intel chips. It is essentially a slightly stripped-down variant of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Desktop with most applications, such as developer tools, removed, said Scott Crenshaw, vice president of Red Hat’s enterprise Linux platform business.

The operating system would also have a shorter support life span — two years, as opposed to the seven years for RHEL Desktop. Primary support for systems sold with Global Desktop would go to the system builders, which would then be able to escalate to Intel and Red Hat as needed. Red Hat declined to say how much Global Desktop would cost to systems builders.

Global Desktop will not be available in the U.S. when it rolls out in June, but Crenshaw said it is “very likely” to be expanded later.

Channel headlines 3/13/07; Vista vulnerable to known attack; Cisco, IBM team on services; Apple prepping 8-core Mac?; DST poses [many, few, useful] problems

Windows Vista vulnerable to long-time attack method A researcher explains that a well-known attack carried out though StickyKeys, can be exploited in Windows Vista.   SearchSecurity.com]

Cisco, IBM to merge maintenance services abroad Cisco Systems Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. said on Monday they will combine technical support services for mutual customers, highlighting increasingly close ties between the network equipment maker and computer services company. [Reuters]

Apple slip exposes eight-core Mac Pro Quad-core Xeon machine imminent? [TheReg]

Few woes mark computers’ daylight shift This weekend’s early switch to daylight-saving time was billed as a little re-enactment of the Y2K computer problem at the turn of the millennium. And as it happened, the daylight bug appeared to have equally minor results. [AP]

Time change brings ‘nightmare’ issues with Outlook, calendars Microsoft officials say the worst of the problems regarding the daylight-saving time change have passed, but some customers are still complaining of “nightmare” issues. [eWEEK]

DST switch offers lessons learned Those who survived the daylight-saving time deadline offer some words of wisdom in case the laws change yet again.  SearchWinIT.com]

Continued »