Dale Gardner: Markets

Low Cost PCs Threaten Ability To Innovate

Fri, 11 Oct 2002 10:26:28 GMT

Maintaining that "someone" is subsidizing the actual cost of low-cost PCs ($199 at Wal-Mart) running the LindowsOS, Microsot's Steve Ballmer insists Microsoft won't cut costs to be competitive. Ballmer: Windows prices are firm [ZDNet Tech News]

Software Assurance: "Protection Money"

Fri, 11 Oct 2002 10:15:21 GMT

Unhappiness over Microsoft licensing program remains. Microsoft Licensing: Still A Sticking Point For Some Enterprises [TechWeb]

Sell To LOB Managers

Fri, 11 Oct 2002 10:08:49 GMT

The discussion of how cost-justification duties are increasingly falling to line-of-business managers overlooks the larger trend - that LOB managers are increasingly driving all aspects of IT acquisitions. It's no longer adequate - arguably, it never was - to simply target the IT organization in sales and marketing efforts. Business units inherit more IT cost-justification duties [Computerworld]

Sony Gets 6% of Palm Source

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 14:37:39 GMT

Sony to Put $20 Million Into Palm Software. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Sony Corp. agreed to invest $20 million Tuesday in Palm Inc.'s software division, which the handheld computer maker plans to spin off next year. By The Associated Press. [New York Times: Technology]

Upside Shuts Down, Red Herring Retrenches

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 13:29:09 GMT

The NYT reports that Upside has followed Forbes ASAP into publishing oblivion by ceasing publication. Also, Red Herring has been sold to an investor and has seen staff shrink from 400 to less than 50. Data specific to Upside isn't at hand, but the entire tech publishing sector has seen ad pages - and consequently revenue - disappear. Pages for Red Herring are down nearly 70% year over year.

Barrett: Clap Really Hard If You Believe

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 12:43:46 GMT

Intel chief talks up tech rebound. Craig Barrett, boss of semiconductor giant Intel, says the long awaited technology sector recovery is just around the corner. [BBC News | TECHNOLOGY]

Fear Of Spam Impacts Newsletter Effectiveness

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 12:08:30 GMT

"Legitimate e-mail is at war with spam, and spam may be the ultimate winner," said Nielsen Norman Group's Jakob Nielsen. E-mail makes surfers emotional. E-mail marketing works[cedilla] say internet experts[cedilla] but spam could undermine their effectiveness. [BBC News | TECHNOLOGY]

Happy Birthday ThinkPad

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 11:58:57 GMT

IBM's ThinkPad turns 10. The computer maker's notebook design set a standard for other designers to follow. Where does it go from here? [CNET News.com]

NetIQ Snaps Up Pentasafe

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 11:53:44 GMT

Leaves the clock ticking for other smaller security vendors who need to be acquired, or risk being out-marketed by larger, more market-savvy competitors. NetIQ to purchase PentaSafe for $255 million. Deal is latest example of consolidation in security software industry [InfoWorld: Top News]

Marketers Must Work To Ban Spam

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 11:45:13 GMT

With the amount of spam increasing exponentially - now representing 38% of all e-mail traffic, up from 8% last year - marketers who hope to continue to use email to communicate with customers need to act to help shape and define laws to control the deluge. You're going to get laws - if you don't get involved, you may not like the results. Needed Now: Laws to Can Spam [Business Week: Technology]

Ballmer: Don't Need No Services...

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 11:38:08 GMT

MS chief Ballmer rules out services buys. No consulting arm? Shurely shome... [The Register]

Selling Security: Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 11:29:49 GMT

This is all a bit like the movies in driver's ed where teachers attempt to scare young drivers into responsible behavior. Doesn't work any better when applied to security. Tech Managers Say They Still Struggle To Show Value Of Security [TechWeb]

Tech Marketers Need To Embrace Branding

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 11:20:45 GMT

Futurist: Technology And Branding No Longer Strangers [TechWeb]

Hurwitz Goes Under

Tue, 08 Oct 2002 15:39:55 GMT

Computerworld and InformationWeek report that IT analyst firm Hurwitz Group Inc. closed its doors and has gone out of business.

Trade Shows Are The Dinosaurs of Hi-Tech Marketing

Fri, 20 Sep 2002 12:25:05 GMT

Combine an economy in disarry and ongoing concerns over the safety and convenience of travel, and the only surprise is that it's taken this long for major shows to start going under the knife. In one interesting development, TechTarget has begun promoting shows where attendance is free and hotel rooms are comped for qualified attendees. Tech trade shows face axe. The dot.com collapse has finally brought down a series of trade fairs which once attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors. [BBC News | TECHNOLOGY]

EDS Earnings Fall Off Cliff

Fri, 20 Sep 2002 12:19:03 GMT

The concern, obviously, is whether the halt in spending is a harbinger of a larger trend. EDS sees services cash "virtually stop" [ZDNet Tech News]

Physician, Heal Thyself?

Fri, 20 Sep 2002 12:11:39 GMT

Ex-Palm developer creates tools to track product development. Start-up software moves products [ZDNet Tech News]

The Network Is The Computer?

Fri, 20 Sep 2002 11:20:09 GMT

StarOffice, it seems, will set you free. It turns out that Sun's strategy isn't all that new and different after all, just a retread of the network computing model with Linux as the starring player. Sun's punts cheap PCs at blue collar workers. Our hairball is cheaper than their hairball [The Register]

Watch Me Pull A Rabbitt Out Of My Hat

Fri, 20 Sep 2002 11:09:55 GMT

General Magic, once the hottest property in the tech market, throws in the towel. A high profile and good technology seemingly weren't enough to establish momentum in any market. General Magic calls its quits. The formerly hot Silicon Valley company once enjoyed investments from Apple and Microsoft and let rabbits wander free around its offices to inspire creativity. [CNET News.com]

Sun To Pursue Linux Desktops?

Wed, 18 Sep 2002 12:21:41 GMT

You know you're off to a bad start when the media start to refer to your plan as a "Frankenstein-like" strategy. Of course, if the shoe fits... Perhaps all will be clear after the official announcement, but at the moment, there doesn't seem to be much reason to buy into this, unless of course, you really hate Microsoft. But even there, with all the frustration expressed with Microsoft few people appear to have taken the step of kicking them out. IDC data reveal that the penetration of Linux on the desktop has increased for six straight years - but it still rests at only a 1.7 percent share of the client market. Sun to shed light on desktop Linux plans. Linux play to be spelled out at SunNetwork conference [InfoWorld: Top News]

Linux: A Rising Tide?

Wed, 18 Sep 2002 11:50:59 GMT

Linux continues to gain in viability at the corporate level. I.B.M. Agrees to Expand Its Use of the Linux Operating System. I.B.M. and the software company Red Hat plan to announce a multiyear alliance to greatly expand the range of I.B.M. computers and software products that run Linux. By Barnaby J. Feder. [New York Times: Business]

UCITA Update - Going Nowhere, Fast?

Wed, 18 Sep 2002 11:33:57 GMT

A review of the situation surrounding the adoption (or lack of) of UCITA. Morass is the word I think we're looking for... A Battle Over Software Licensing. The battle lines are drawn in the struggle for a uniform standard in software licensing for all 50 states. By Laurie J. Flynn. [New York Times: Technology]

Expect Further 3G Delays

Wed, 18 Sep 2002 10:56:28 GMT

Rally round the lawyers as IP issues slow adoption of the standard. Analysis: Patent disputes could further complicate 3G. Intellectual property issues threaten to hamper 3G adoption [InfoWorld: Top News]

Software Sector Still Depressed

Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:35:31 GMT

Few Software Surprises Ahead [Business Week: Technology]

IDC Cuts PC Sales Forecasts

Thu, 12 Sep 2002 13:10:01 GMT

As recently as June, IDC projected growth of 4.7 percent in PC sales for 2002, and 11.1 percent for 2003. Now, the research firm sees total shipments of only 135.5 million in 2002, an increase of 1.1 percent. The projection for 2003 was cut to growth of 8.4. Researcher Cuts Sales Forecast for Computers Through 2003. Citing growing fears of the effect of a prolonged economic malaise, International Data is scaling back its forecast on personal computer sales for 2002 and 2003. By John Markoff. [New York Times: Business]