IBM to Buy AMD? Seems Unlikely, But an Interesting Idea
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

A few weeks ago, when I was complaining that Big Blue needed to rationalize its product names, I quipped that IBM could start making its own Opteron processors just so it could call its X64-based servers the System/x6 line and then make it match the System/p6 Power servers and System/z6 mainframes. I was joking, but a report in the Financial Times last week suggested that IBM and Advanced Micro Devices might be thinking of merging their processor businesses. READ MORE >

i5/OS V6R1: It Must Be Getting Close, Since People Are Talking
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

IBM's next generation of operating system for the System i platform, i5/OS V6R1, must be getting closer to its launch date. You can usually tell when an IBM operating system is getting close to launch because all at once, some people are aware of and talking about features in the future operating system that were not part of the official statements of direction and product previews we get from Big Blue. READ MORE >

Microsoft Rains on IBM's Lotusphere Parade
by Alex Woodie

The war for unified communications (UC) supremacy continued to unfold last week, as IBM made the pitch at its annual Lotusphere conference that companies are better off choosing its new Linux-based Notes and Domino platform for their e-mail, messaging, voice over IP (VoIP), and collaboration needs. Not content to let Big Blue hog the spotlight, Microsoft unveiled a new release of its Transporter Suite for migrating Notes and Domino customers over to its UC software. READ MORE >

As I See It: Avatar Nation
by Victor Rozek

Let's say that you want to attend COMMON. But this year, COMMON is being held in Nashville, or Dallas, or Boston, or Seattle, or Chicago, or San Diego, or anywhere except where you are. First, you'd have to budget for the trip a year ahead, or there would be no money for travel. Next, you'd have to grovel for permission from management. Then you'd have to book a flight, make your hotel reservations, and rent a car. On your travel day, you would probably get up at some ungodly hour to get to the airport early, leave your car in the ridiculously expensive long-term parking, and subject yourself to the indignities of search and seizure. READ MORE >