Windows Improves in Reliability, Yankee Finds
by Alex Woodie

A recent study by the Yankee Group found that users have experienced considerably less downtime with Windows Server 2003 compared to Windows Server 2000. The study also looked at how Windows reliability fared against other operating systems, and found that the Microsoft product was up and running more than the leading Linux distribution, although it still can't match the superior uptime of Unix systems.READ MORE >

Microsoft Unveils LOBi to Unite 3rd Party Apps with Office
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft, perhaps buoyed by good early feedback of its "Duet" product that turns its Office suite into an interface with SAP's ERP applications, has designs on doing something similar for other business applications. At the Tech Ed conference last week, Microsoft announced its strategy for a new line of business interoperability (LOBi), tools for further transforming Office into a front-end for Microsoft's own products, as well as making it an interface with third-party ERP, CRM, SCM, and business intelligence and content management systems. READ MORE >

Bill Gates Bowing Out
by Alex Woodie

Bill Gates has begun the process of leaving Microsoft, the company he co-founded 31 years ago, to spend more time on his charitable work, it was announced last week. The plan calls for a two-year transition out of day-to-day activities. The evolution will begin immediately for Gates, who is giving up the chief software architect title, and it will continue through July 2008, at which point he will work only part time. The move comes amid a period of re-organization at the world's largest software company, and signals more changes to come. READ MORE >

Dell Pre-Announces Generation 9 of PowerEdge Servers
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Server maker Dell launched the ninth generation of its PowerEdge server line two weeks ago, and began the launch with machines that use Intel's "Dempsey" dual-core Xeon processors and its "Bensley" two-socket server platform. The Bensley platform will also support Intel's much-improved "Woodcrest" Xeon Core processors, which offer better performance per watt than the Dempsey chips and which are expected to start shipping in a matter of weeks. Dell was expected to formally launch the new PowerEdge line on June 15. READ MORE >