Steve Mills, senior vice president and group executive for IBM Corp.'s software division, spoke with Computerworld at the LinuxWorld Conference in San Francisco this week about Linux usage trends and the open-source operating system's future.
Although Microsoft has released the first beta of its Windows Vista client operating system -- as well as a test version of its next server operating system -- only corporate users who are members of Microsoft's MSDN development program, TechNet or Windows Vista Technical Beta Program can download the software
Top Microsoft executives have outlined sketchy plans to introduce premium versions of products such as Windows and Office in the hopes of driving more revenue growth.
During a keynote address at Microsoft's recent Worldwide Partner Conference here in Minneapolis, CEO Steve Ballmer said the company will offer managed services that are designed "more like a product or a standard offer and less like a set of customized outsourcing services." Rick Devenuti, senior vice president of Microsoft Services & IT, discussed with Computerworld the company's plans to sell services under a model where they're listed as stock-keeping units, or SKUs.
Open-source zealots may continue to play a part in instigating the spread of Linux across the European continent, nearly 14 years after Linus Torvalds hatched the operating system in Finland. But private corporations and public-sector users in Europe typically cite pragmatic reasons for taking up the open-source operating system. They point to price and performance benefits. They want freedom to swap out hardware. They find the operating system reliable. They like its flexibility.
Following the success of its software package aimed at small businesses, Microsoft Thursday made its first concerted effort to court midsize companies with a Windows Server System promotion.
Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows Server division, this week offered an update on the company's long-term vision for its server operating system, as well as related software products. Muglia discussed Microsoft's plans to change its Virtual Server product from a separately sold product to an operating system feature in the time frame of the next Windows Server release, code named Longhorn.
In an interview yesterday at Red Hat's inaugural user conference here in New Orleans, CEO Matthew Szulik told Computerworld that the best opportunities for the company's open-source software stack lie outside the U.S:
Microsoft has tried for years to get other software vendors to use Office as the front end for their applications, according to some analysts. Now it finally appears to be making some headway.
Microsoft has fleshed out the details of a plan to build virtualisation capabilities directly into Windows as part of its effort to catch up to virtualization software market leader VMware.
Jim Allchin, group vice president of platforms at Microsoft, wants to dispel the notion that 64-bit computing is helpful only for big database servers and computer-assisted design (CAD) applications. Allchin last week extolled the benefits of 64-bit computing during an interview with Computerworld. Microsoft is expected to release 64-bit editions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 this month.
IT managers will find several tools designed to help them protect systems from security threats in the first service pack update for Windows Server 2003, which Microsoft released on Wednesday -- nearly two years after the operating system's debut.
With NetWare usage continuing to decline, Novell is making Linux and "identity-driven computing" the focal points at this week's annual BrainShare user conference in Salt Lake City. In an interview with Computerworld Monday, CEO Jack Messman talked about his company's strategy, its efforts to court Windows users and recent shake-ups in Novell's executive ranks.
Just days before the kickoff of Novell's annual BrainShare user conference, its chief technology officer this week disclosed plans to leave the company at the end of the month to become the general manager of a software business unit at another IT vendor.
IT managers who once used Linux chiefly to support Web and file-and-print servers said at last week's LinuxWorld Conference & Expo here that they're now running key applications and databases on Linux-based systems -- a sign that the open-source software is penetrating deeper into corporate enterprises.