Dell & the Cloud: Where we've been, Where we're going

They say turn around is fair play.  Kevin Hazard of the Planet recently took this literally.  No sooner had I finished interviewing him at the Cloud Expo in Santa Clara then he turned around and pointed his camera at me.  He got me talking about the cloud and what the heck Dell’s doing in it.

Some of the topics I tackle:

• What I do as Dell’s Cloud Evangelist.
• Where Dell plays in the cloud:
  • Cloud based services providing IT management as a service.
  • Building these capabilities through the acquisition of four companies over the last two years:  MessageOne, ASAP, Everdream and Silverback.
  • Creating custom servers as well as providing data center design and implementation for some of the world’s largest “hyper-scale” customers e.g. Microsoft’s Azure and three out of the top five search engines in the U.S.
• What’s next:  building on this experience to offer integrated cloud solutions for setting up private and public clouds.  Combining Dell hardware and services with best of breed software — all coming from/supported by Dell.

• My thoughts on Public vs. Private clouds and how we will end up with a mix of computing models.

Extra Credit Reading

• MSPmentor’s take on my interview

Pau for now…

[Via http://bartongeorge.net]

Could a new fund lift Elevation Partners?

High profile private equity shop appears to be pitching new fund despite string of struggling investments.

Word is that Elevation Partners, the high-profile if poorly timed private-equity firm headlined by rock star Bono and star investor Roger McNamee, is raising a new fund.

Elevation's investment partners (from left): Bret Pearlman, Fred Anderson, Bono, Marc Bodnick and Roger McNamee. Photo: Elevation Partners.

As surely as dogs chase rabbits or night follows day, PE shops raise more money when the existing fund is mostly used up. (Elevation’s is about 70% invested.) Yet when all you have to show for your first effort are embarrassing misses — no rabbits caught, mostly grim darkness, metaphorically speaking — it’s got to be tough to collect fresh cash.

This is the tough position in which Elevation finds itself. Despite having raised $1.9 billion in 2004, the ballyhooed firm is far from a successful experiment. It’s got all of one exit, a gaming-company sale to Electronic Arts (ERTS), headed by an Elevation co-founder.

Two of its investments are seriously sick. One is the online real estate dog Move.com (MOVE), better known by its scandal-ridden former name, Homestore.com. The other is Forbes Media, the parent for FORTUNE competitor Forbes Magazine, in which Elevation invested at perhaps the worst time in decades for media enterprises.

The snafus sting, of course. But the fate of Elevation’s first fund rests almost solely on one investment, its $460-million stake in beleaguered smartphone maker Palm (PALM). That investment is barely in the money for Elevation. It’s worth about $500 million currently.

Elevation is demonstrably in for the long term: It chose not to sell late last year when the stock peaked around $18, compared to Tuesday’s close of $11.65. Palm recently raised $500 million in a stock offering, so its near term is secure.

Still haven’t found what they’re looking for?

But the company is a long way from a home run, unless Elevation forces a sale to a bigger player like Dell (DELL) or Microsoft (MSFT). Remaining independent is an expensive proposition, however, as Barclays analyst Amir Rozwadowski notes to clients.

“We believe that its improved cash position should enable the company to be very aggressive in its marketing efforts over the next few quarters, particularly as the company looks to improve brand recognition, carrier distribution, and overall awareness of its products,” he writes. “We do however expect the company to continue to burn cash at a healthy clip in the near term, as expanding scale is at the top of management’s agenda.”

Elevation declined to comment on its fundraising agenda. It needs to raise a new fund, though, in part because it recently added longtime eBay CFO Rajiv Dutta to its ranks as managing director. New bigshots typically don’t get to participate in the “economics” of five-year-old funds, so if Dutta, a skilled operations and financial executive, is to make some serious money at Elevation, he’ll need a fund from which to invest.

Elevation doesn’t have trouble getting meetings. Endowment heads are likely to agree to a sit down if Bono shows up. Once in the room, there are few better talkers in Silicon Valley than McNamee. (A wonkish fantasy: a “talk-off” featuring McNamee, venture capitalist John Doerr and Apple’s Steve Jobs. Imagine the possibilities.) McNamee and his partners will have their work cut out for them, though. One win, two disasters, a couple fresh investments and one still risky possibility. Not the strongest lineup to bring into a pitch meeting.

[Via http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com]

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 - Laptop with Facial recognition security software - Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache), 6GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edg

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache), 6GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Review

Check Price Now! Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache), 6GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Feature

• Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache) , 6GB DDR3 SDRAM
• 500GB 7200RPM Sata Hard Drive, 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
• Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD (1366×768) Laptop screen with 2.0 Megapixel Camera, Dual Digital Array Microphones, Intel® 5100 WLAN Wireless-N (1×2) Half Mini Card
• ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 – 512MB, Obsidican Blak with Leather Accent, 6 Cell Primary Battery
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium – 64bit, Microsoft Works, Facial Recognition Software

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache), 6GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Overview

The Studio XPS 16 shines a light on features that matter. Its backlit keyboard and touch pad buttons are easy to use, day or night. Keep an eye on your battery power by simply checking the color of the indicator on the hinge. Capacitive multimedia buttons also glow when activated.Help protect your files with a smile.Why worry about forgetting your password? Facial recognition security software lets you log onto your laptop with a simple scan of your face. It automatically locks your laptop when you step away, and unlocks it upon your return.Externally Accessible: (2) USB 2.0 compliant ports,(1) USB 2.0 compliant / e-SATA port with PowerShare, 15-pin VGA video connector, IEEE compliant 1394a port, Integrated network connector 10/100/1000 LAN (RJ45), 54mm Express Card slot, Display Port, HDMI Port, AC adapter connector, Audio jacks (2 line-out, 1 Mic-in),8-in-1 Media Card Reader. Dimensions & Weight: Width: 15.15″ (384.9mm), Height: 0.95″ (24.1mm) front / 1.34″ (33.95mm) backDepth: 10.02″ (254.6mm)Weight: Starting weight of 6.4 lbs. (2.91 kg)8(16″ WLED display 6 cell battery). Weights will vary depending on configurations and manufacturing variability.

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6MB Cache), 6GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Specifications

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 14, 2009 11:00:05

[Via http://8xdvd8x.wordpress.com]

The Bottom Line on Facebook and Twitter

By Irina Skaya

Last week, I wrote a blog on 10 best practices for managing branded Facebook fan pages.  Since, I also wrote Twitter do’s and don’ts that include crisis and time management tips. I’ve written both for a presentation for my social media team at Horizon Media, which was extremely well-received.  In fact, the feedback I’ve received has inspired me to share this presentation on Slideshare.net.  The same day I posted it to Twitter, the Slideshare team has featured it on their homepage.  Take a look at it yourself, and if you like it as well, nominate it for the Slideshare Zeitgeist 2009!

[Via http://iskaya.wordpress.com]

RTR: Rapport + Trust = Referrals

Grosh Backdrops and Drapery Brand

A NEW brand ambassador is a passionate consumer that actively and willingly promotes your brand, product or service through social media outlets creating a “viral word of mouth” marketing campaign FREE of charge. These people provide credible feedback and first hand knowledge of whatever it is you offer and increase your company reach and visibility. Sounds great right?

Where to start: “If you build it, they will come.”

To build NEW brand ambassadors you must first become one yourself! Practice what you preach. What brands are you loyal to? Why are you loyal to them? Tweet away! Champion a cause and let your voice be heard!

Be accessible:

One of the great things about social media is that “key” people are more accessible these days. It used to be that if you had a question, comment, concern or complaint your only option was to call a 1-800 number and listen to an automated teller ramble on while you press zero over AND over AND over again trying to get to the operator and talk to a live person. These days with just one tweet or post, key decision makers are at your fingertips. So listen up, social media company contacts whether it be CEO’s, VP’s, customer service and account reps, sales and marketing managers, it is good business practice to make yourselves accessible. Respond back to the good, the bad and the ugly questions and comments of your “potential” consumers and current customers because just as one tweet can make Dell 6.5mil, one tweet from an unhappy camper can certainly lose you money.

Mutually beneficial relationships:

A couple other ways you can build new brand ambassadors AND mutually beneficial relationships are through guest blogs and Twitter chat sessions. Guest bloggers not only lend their unique voice to your blog but they also bring their legion of friends, fans and followers to your website. They get to separate themselves from the crowd and promote their talent and brand while engaging a whole new network that may be unfamiliar with them. With Twitter Q/A chat sessions companies have a chance to gain valuable feedback on their products and services. Chat sessions are a way for consumers to voice their opinions and feel like they made a difference. Great for troubleshooting! It is also a wonderful opportunity for a company to build rapport and earn trust from consumers.

RTR: Rapport, Trust, Referrals

Rapport + Trust = Referrals: By being accessible and engaging with your current customers and potential consumers in your network you begin to build Rapport with them. By building rapport you gain their Trust. By gaining their trust, you get Referrals which leads to a viral word of mouth marketing campaign. Just like in face to face meet and greets, make sure you are genuine. Do not push the “hard sell.” Remember, new brand ambassadors promote willingly and that the most sold relationships are mutually beneficial.

[Via http://groshbackdrops.wordpress.com]

Fusion-io Update: IBM Moves Past "Server Proven" to Supported Device

WHAT FUSION-IO ANNOUNCED TODAY

Fusion-io announced today that the ioDrive would be released to IBM clients as the HIGH IOPS Adapter in the 160gb and 320gb versions.  To my eye these are identical to the ioDrives currently shipping as “Server Proven” but there may be some differences; I wasn’t able to download the datasheet so it’s hard to tell.

ANALYSIS

Fundamentally, Fusion-io is not a storage play — it’s all about performance.  IBM’s introduction of the ioDrive to the SYSTEM X family of servers is a mirror of the HP situation where the storage groups essentially compete with the server group when it comes to Fusion-io.  The good news is that all the left-rudder/right-rudder confusion is now over.  Fusion-io owns the SSD-based PCIe market at IBM and HP (for now).

MY TAKE

It will be interesting to see  the uptake at the direct sales level for IBM and HP over the next few quarters.  In the world of zero-sum budgets, this could have an immediate and substantial negative consequence to SCHOONER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (another Lightspeed investment as is Fusion-io) and other storage appliance vendors touting NAND flash as a performance enhancement (Violin Memory and Avere come to mind).

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

I give Fusion-io credit for sticking with the program — it’s going to be a long, slow, crawl to get the server vendors moving substantial amounts of ioDrives but it looks like the engine is starting to rev.  I’m guessing the lone holdout, DELL, will opt in at some point with a supported device strategy for Fusion-io.

FIO ANNOUNCEMENT

IBM LINK

[Via http://sjsattler.wordpress.com]

PC-NEWS

Acquisition of Dell’s PC plant in Poland by Foxconn Foxconn Electronics’ (Hon Hai Precision Industry’s) acquisition of Dell’s PC plant in Poland is unlikely to help boost its notebook shipments significantly in the short term since the plant’s notebook output is very small; however, it might trigger Dell to increase its outsourcing to Foxconn in the long run, according to sources from notebook makers. Dell’s in-house notebook production lines are mainly located at its plants in Malaysia while the Poland plant is mainly used for desktop production with a very small volume of notebook manufacturing. Therefore, the acquisition should directly benefit Foxconn’s desktop shipments and sales, the sources pointed out. Foxconn’s current weakness lies in its lack of a strong R&D team, and purchasing a purely manufacturing plant will not benefit the company much in this regard, the sources noted. The acquisition will not impact the current outsourcing plans of first-tier notebook makers for 2010 since Foxconn’s new orders are from Dell’s in-house production. Foxconn’s current notebook clients include Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Apple and Sony with an estimated shipments of 3-4 million notebooks in 2009, and forecast shipments of six million units for 2010, the sources noted.

[Via http://5magazine.wordpress.com]