Quick Alert: Score one for HP as they grab 3Com!

A tip of the cap to the management and M&A teams at HP, as they continue to acquire the necessary pieces to challenge Cisco’s core business.  With HP’s acquisition of 3Com for $2.7 billion, HP has gained a portfolio of modern architected networking products that span switching, routing, and network security.  Additionally, HP expanded access to overseas markets, including the ever expanding market in China, through 3Com’s H3C unit. 

While some will laugh at the reach and capabilities of 3Com, HP understands that 3Com’s products are solid, modern, and good-enough when put under the HP ProCurve brand and backed by the power of HP and their Services Division.  Furthermore, while Cisco continues to date the likes of EMC and VMware, HP is in full control of their destiny.  They have built a strong portfolio that spans storage, servers, virtualization, networking, security, applications, and management.

While Cisco isn’t going to be losing any sleep over this acquisition, they will take note of how aggressive HP is going to be to not only defend their own turf but also to expand into Cisco’s bread and butter.  However, IBM, Juniper, Brocade, and Dell may be tossing and turning tonight as they contemplate the future.  If IBM continues to wait to purchase the necessary pieces to compete with HP and Cisco, their choices will be limited.  If Dell does not shore up their portfolio, then they face the reality of falling further behind and severely limiting their growth potential.  Finally, both Juniper and Brocade must weigh the possibility that organic growth may not be possible as we are nearing a major inflection point for all of IT.

One quick note, don’t underestimate Huawei or ZTE as they are both hungry and flush with cash.  Additionally, Oracle remains a wildcard as they may jump into this race.

Painful upgrade to Windows 7 for my Dell 11z

I just spent the entire day and a half working on getting Windows 7 installed on my Dell Inspiron 11z Netbook… what a hassle. Just to recap: I ordered my Dell 11z last month a few weeks before the release date of Windows 7, and Dell offered a promotion to “pre-install” Windows 7 on certain machines if they are delivered after Oct 22nd. My order fell in this category, so I made my purchase with the belief that my Dell 11z would ship on Oct 25th with Windows 7 installed, and thus I would avoid the hassle of doing an upgrade installation and having to fight to find the right drivers, etc. Well, that didn’t happen. My Dell 11z arrived with Windows Vista installed, and after talking with Dell support several times discovered my only recourse was to get the Windows 7 upgrade DVDs from Dell and do the upgrade myself.

First of all, the upgrade installation came on DVDs and I do not have an external DVD-ROM drive. So, I had to do some Googling to figure out how to create a bootable USB flash drive, copy all the install files to it, and boot up my Dell 11z from this USB drive.

After doing the installation (which went fairly smoothly), I discovered that several internal devices (such as the WiFi Card, Bluetooth module, card reader) were not present on my system under Device Manager. Apparently, these drivers were not part of the “native” drivers available with Windows 7. So I visited the Dell web site to discover that most of these drivers are non-existent under the Dell 11z product for Windows 7 drivers and apps.

I decided to contact Dell tech support via the online chat, and I get someone who just runs me in circles doing a bunch of crazy stuff. He’s giving me links to download drivers and apps that just don’t work. Finally, he tells me my Win 7 installation must have “gone bad” and I will need to reinstall Vista, then Windows 7 on top of that. Go suck an egg, brother… I’m not doing that!

So my next move was to restore my Dell 11z back to the Vista OS-state  by using Clonezilla and the backup image that I made just before I did the Win 7 upgrade. I then went through the system tray icons, start menu, etc. and wrote down every extra Dell driver and app I could find. I also made screenshots of the Device Manager output so I would know what I might be missing so far as devices and drivers.

Once I finished documenting everything, I reinstall Windows 7 again as a clean install. Now, Dell provided a 2nd DVD with the upgrade package labeled “Win 7 Drivers and Apps”, however, there wasn’t a user-friendly application I could run that would install the necessary drivers and apps for my Dell 11z. You needed to go through all the folders on that DVD and figure out which ones might apply to your system and try to install them. A real pain.

So, I downloaded all the drivers I could find from the Dell support site that seemed relevant for my Dell 11z under Windows 7, and also the Vista drivers and apps for anything that seemed to be missing from the Win 7 drivers. Even between the vista and Win 7 drivers/apps, I was still missing two key drivers: One for my internal WiFi card and the other for the Bluetooth Internal Module. Doing some keyword searching on the Dell web site popped up two drivers that seemed to be right (although I don’t know if they are the latest versions). Here’s the links for the two missing drivers:

Dell 1520 Wireless-N Mini-Card Driver and Bluetooth Wireless 365 Module Driver

Armed with all these drivers and apps, I began installing them one by one until all the devices and apps were back, just like under the original Vista OS system. I double checked the system tray icons and Device Manager and it seems that everything is present and working properly. Dell could have saved me (and probably many others) a lot of time by having ALL the correct drivers listed under the Dell 11z product.

NOW, I can start optimizing the system and installing my applications. So hopefully by the end of tomorrow I’ll have my Dell 11z ready for production use. If you’re in the same boat as I, good luck and I hope my comments will help out.

Dell Mini 3ix, the Android smartphone

Dell’s first Android smartphone has received FCC approval. The Dell Mini 3i was released in China earlier this year as a stripped down, entry-level model. The FCC signed off today on a more advanced version, the Mini 3iX. This will include Wi-Fi and 3G mobile broadband, the two features most notably absent from the original.

The Mini 3iX will have the same design as its little brother, giving it a 3.5-inch, 360-by-640 touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, and a microSD memory card slot. In addition to Wi-Fi and 3G, it will have Bluetooth.

Via Brightland >>

This device will run Google’s Android OS. A special user interface was created for the Mini 3i by China Mobile, but this won’t be on a version released in other regions. Instead, Dell has developed a second custom UI (shown here).

Coming to America?
While FCC approval is an indication that the Dell Mini 3iX may be released in the U.S., it isn’t proof. Devices have to get FCC approval before they can even be legally be used in the United States, and many companies get approval from this government agency for models they know customers will carry when traveling.

Vista sold more PCs than Windows 7 did

Microsoft moved a lot of install disks, but hardware makers got a bigger bump two years ago

Photo: Philip Elmer-DeWitt

When Microsoft (MSFT) launches a new operating system, as it did two weeks ago, PC manufacturers like Hewlett Packard (HPQ), Dell (DELL) and Acer are supposed to reap the benefits. And everything seemed to be in place on Thursday Oct. 22 for that happen.

“Never before has the industry launched such a variety of new form factors, price points, technology upgrades, and design innovations at one time,” wrote NPD’s Stephen Baker just before Windows 7’s release. “This past weekend I happened by a Best Buy store and there was not one single PC for sale with Vista on it. Lots of Windows 7 machines, however, all of which were marked ‘not for sale until October 22.’ Someone did a great job in the supply chain making this happen. This will give Win 7 a tremendous boost out of the gate.” (link)

Two weeks later, Baker is singing a different tune. Microsoft got a big boost according to NPD’s weekly tracking data, racking up sales of Windows 7 that were 234% higher than Vista’s during its first few days of sales. (More on that below the fold.)

But PC makers didn’t make out quite as well. Although they had a relatively strong week, with unit sales up 49% year over year and 95% from the week before, it was nothing like Vista’s launch in Feb. 2007. Then, sales soared 68% year over year and 170% from the week before.

In a press release issued Thursday, Baker explained what happened:

“A combination of factors impacted Windows 7 PC sales at the outset,” Baker wrote.  “Vista had a slight advantage at launch, as January traditionally has a bigger sales footprint than October.  The other hurdle Windows 7 faced was sales of PCs with older operating systems (XP and Vista) were high, making up 20 percent of sales during the Windows 7 launch, compared to just 6 percent of older operating sales during Vista’s launch week.”

Another thing to remember about that Vista launch week is that it set a relatively low bar. Retail Vista sales were considerably below Microsoft’s forecast — almost 60% lower than sales of Windows XP during its first week in 2001.

Ironically, it was the computer manufacturers who did best in Feb. 2007. Sales of new PCs with Vista pre-installed were up 67% the week that Vista launched compared with the same week in 2006.

Apple (AAPL), of course, sells both OS X and the Macs that run it, so when it launched Snow Leopard in August, it made money on both sides of the deal.

See also:

• PC sales spike with Windows 7 debut
• Apple pays Google for Windows 7 hits
• Mac share grew after Windows 7 launch

[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]

Dell Releases World's Thinest Laptop

 

This is ridiculous!! I wonder how long I could live with this before it breaks? Pretty soon laptops will be paper thin.

 

I wouldn’t mind snatching one up though. But for $1,800, I think I will fall back. But I know there are some Moguls out there who will snatch this up.

Press release after the jump….

DELL ANNOUNCES ADAMO XPS, A DAZZLING GIFT IDEA FOR STYLE-MINDED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
· World’s Thinnest Laptop is 0.4-inch thin· Adamo XPS Reinforces Dell’s Commitment to Craftsmanship and Design

· Advanced Head-Turning Design Offers Full Feature Set for On-The-Go Computing

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Nov 5, 2009 … Last spring Dell set the computing industry abuzz with the introduction of its Adamo brand, and along with it the world’s thinnest laptop PC. Today, the world meets a new champion of thin: The Dell™ Adamo XPS™, measuring 9.99mm or just four-tenths of an inch. Both laptops set new standards for craftsmanship, design and engineering excellence.

Adamo XPS is a stunning laptop whose design provides a unique experience. With the swipe of a finger, the keyboard appears from under the display as the system is open. The feature set challenged engineers to build the latest technology into a compact space, including:

· 4GB* DDR3 800 memory;

· Intel Core 2 Duo (1.4Ghz) ultra-low voltage processor;

· Thin 128GB SSD for faster, cooler, quieter and more durable storage than traditional hard drives;

· A 13.4-inch high-definition display.

The attention to detail is apparent in the black, jewelry box-like packaging that is as striking as the laptop itself. A tug on a cloth loop reveals the Adamo XPS and assorted accessories that accompany the system. The Adamo XPS was recently recognized as the hottest Windows 7 product by leading technology analyst Rob Enderle with Digital Trends.

Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning “to fall in love,” is a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies.

The Adamo by Dell brand was launched last March with the first Adamo laptop, which combined high-performance technologies in a finely-machined aluminum case only .65-inch thick.

The pencil-thin Adamo XPS weighs just over 3 pounds** and measures 13.39 x 10.71 inches. Dell expects to begin taking orders and shipping the Adamo XPS with Microsoft® Windows® 7 pre-installed in time for the holidays. The Adamo XPS is priced starting at $1799. More information is available at www.adamobydell.com

 

Courtesy: Gizmodo

If the Data Center Is the Computer the Fight Is on to Control the Ecosystem

Liquid Computing, a startup going head-to-head with giants, today launched its own version of unified computing gear that stands in almost direct contrast to the announcements made yesterday by Cisco, EMC and VMware about Vblocks and the new Acadia services arm. Also today, HP laid out its vision and new software for a converged computing infrastructure, the heir to its adaptive infrastructure products of the last four years. These two announcements are the latest in a web of partnerships that are taking place in the data center infrastructure space as folks try to combine computer, storage and networking into some kind of monolithic compute fabric (GigaOM Pro subscription required). The end result of such efforts will be to make the data center function like a giant computer, and the fight is on to provide the component parts plus the OS.

Liquid unveiled its Liquid Elements software that will work with Intel-based servers and NetApp storage gear. The software and Liquid’s switch can be combined to deliver the same sort of unified fabric computing that Cisco has been selling. Liquid differs from the Vblocks on offer through Cisco/EMC/VMware in that the software can run on any Intel-based server, either virtualized or in a bare metal implementation, said Vikram Desai, CEO of Liquid Computing. Cisco’s servers use Intel chips, but they are all about running virtual machines.

HP’s announcements focus on its version of the data center OS that it calls the Infrastructure Operating Environment, its FlexFabric Virtual I/O, and what it calls Virtual Resource Pools, which is a not-that-fancy-way of saying virtualized clusters of server and storage hardware based on existing storage gear and operating systems. There’s also a piece that optimizes data center operations.

However, on the server side, HP has a big limitation right now in that its Flex Fabric virtual I/O software only works with HP’s blade servers. So to really get the benefits of a converged network fabric, you’re gonna have to have HP blade for now. Doug Oathout, VP of Green IT at HP, says the company plans to make Flex Fabric work on other hardware, but offered no time line.

What’s in Store for Storage

That’s the server+networking side, so what’s happening in storage? HP’s Virtual resource pools are pretty compelling in that they can work with any hypervisor and can accommodate applications that are running on bare metal servers without virtualization and a variety of storage gear. HP today also announced its HP X9000 boxes which contain software from its IBRIX acquisition. They offer enterprises the ability to create up to 16 petabytes of virtualized storage. It’s like having the ability to open a door in any room in your home and find an empty walk-in closet when needed.

On the storage side, Cisco’s servers can see it, but they can’t control or talk to the storage infrastructure. That’s why it needs EMC and VMware working with it to make a truly unified platform. Liquid Element can talk to any Ethernet-based storage gear, although it works best with storage from NetApp.

When it comes to services, HP will help you figure out how to build out this converged infrastructure and Liquid will rely on selling though channels. The creation of Acadia may signal that Cisco was having a hard time selling its equipment into organizations through a channel that couldn’t figure out how to make its gear work, Liquid’s Desai pointed out. It also may show how deals whereby large IT vendors have snapped up systems integrators (Dell buying Perot Systems or HP buying EDS) have forced Cisco to offer its own services arm in order to push its gear where those others may not.

As cloud computing and delivering IT on demand get taken over by the larger vendors, and are made palatable for enterprise customers, companies from small to large are cobbling together their vision for this highly virtualized data center infrastructure that basically acts and thinks like one big computer. Given how different the products are when it comes to openness and working with other equipment, it looks like we’re heading for a Mac vs. PC fight in the data center.

Intel's (INTC) Worst Day: Why Didn't IBM Rat On Mr. Chips?

There may have been a time when Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) wanted to the next Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), at least in terms of earnings, market cap, and share of market. It has, in essence, followed in Redmond’s footsteps, at least with antitrust authorities.

Intel is becoming more embroiled by the month in charges that it used threats and kickbacks to keep PC and servers companies from doing business with its smaller competitor AMD (NYSE:AMD). AMD is close to ruin, though it is a matter of opinion whether its current state was caused by former CEO Hector Ruiz or Intel’s clandestine actions.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed antitrust charges against Intel Corp., alleging the company threatened computer makers and paid huge kickbacks to stop them from using competitors’ chips, according to The Wall Street Journal. Among the companies that Intel may have threatened are IBM (NYSE:IBM), Dell (NASDAQ:DELL), and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ).

Intel has already been fined in the amount of $1.56 billion by the EU for anti-competitive behavior. That judgement will almost certainly be appealed. The FTC is also looking at Intel’s past business practices.

Like Microsoft before it, Intel is faced with the potential of multiple actions which might include the Justice Department and regulators in other large developed nations with strict antitrust regulations, particularly Japan and South Korea.

The NYS announcement raises several important questions. The first is whether any of Intel’s customers can claim that they were damaged by not being able to do business with AMD which, for a time, had several chip products that were considered superior to Intel’s.

The second, and perhaps more pressing question, is why companies like IBM and HP, which are larger than Intel, would allow themselves to be bullied and bribed for a period that may have lasted for years. Is there a reason that the companies did not bring Intel’s actions to the attention of the Justice Department?

Where were the general counsels at IBM and HP when management needed them? Certainly not riding around in the yachts that Intel bought them