Microsoft to launch retail chain

Microsoft to launch retail chain

Computer software giant Microsoft has announced plans to open its own stores, at a time when many other retailers are struggling in the economic downturn.

The company plans to sell computers installed with Microsoft software and other products, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said.

The stores will also promote new operating system Windows 7 and updates of Windows Live and Windows Mobile.

Ex-Wal-Mart executive David Porter will head the new retail division.

The company's rival Apple already has high-profile stores located around the world.

Read the rest of the article here.

Compliments to GiddyG for the find

-Ken

MS To Offer Free Windows 7 Upgrade To Vista Users

MS To Offer Free Windows 7 Upgrade To Vista Users (limitations applied)

The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program Rev. 2.1

The Windows 7 Upgrade Program is designed to assist Microsoft's OEM partners in minimizing the number of end users who may postpone acquiring a new computer because of the impending release of the Windows 7 operating system. This program allows OEMs to offer an upgrade to Windows 7 to end users who qualify.

This is a consumer-oriented program targeted at individual consumers and small businesses that have purchased eligible PCs during the Program Eligibility Period. End users will have to meet these requirements to be deemed eligible for the upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released:

End users must purchase a new PC that is pre-installed with an eligible Windows Vista Operating System (OS), during the program eligibility window.

The PC must have a valid Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached.

The only...

Virtualisation hotting up in 2009

Virtualisation hotting up in 2009

Virtualisation technology is going to become even more significant in 2009 with businesses increasingly realising its potential benefits.

Analyst house Gartner predicts global revenue from virtualisation software will grow by 43 per cent this year, hitting $2.7bn, compared to $1.9bn in 2008.

In addition the global penetration of virtualisation technology in businesses is forecast to hit 20 per cent by the end of the year - up from 12 per cent in 2008.

Read the whole article here.

I agree, I've already virtualised 3 of our servers (plus 1 test virtual server) and currently building another virtual server running sharepoint 2007 connecting to our MIS system. With a view to virtualising more of our servers this year (summer time)...

-Ken

'Extremely difficult' NHS IT roll out cost hospital £10m

'Extremely difficult' NHS IT roll out cost hospital £10m

A London hospital is looking for £10m compensation after an "extremely difficult" implementation of the Care Record System, part of the NHS National programme for IT.

The introduction of the system at the Royal Free Hospital caused a "£10m problem for the trust," said Andrew Way, chief executive of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust.

It had to pay an extra £4m to get the system working, and lost £6m because it was unable to bill other parts of the NHS for work done.

He said the trust "is in discussion with other parts of the NHS to seek to resolve this financial issue". It is not seeking compensation from the NHS or other trusts, but through the NHS London Local Strategic Health Authority and the London Programme for IT.

Read the whole article here.

-Ken

Microsoft bounty for worm creator

Microsoft bounty for worm creator

A reward of $250,000 (£172,000) has been offered by Microsoft to find who is behind the Downadup/Conficker virus.

Since it started circulating in October 2008 the Conficker worm has managed to infect millions of computers worldwide.

The software giant is offering the cash reward because it views the Conficker worm as a criminal attack.

Read the full story here

(Thanks to GiddyG for the link)

Decline in IT Security vacancies

Demand for information security staff declined noticeably in the second half of 2008

Demand for information security staff declined noticeably in the second half of 2008. Recruitment freezes and elongated recruitment sign off procedures are becoming more common and unemployment amongst security practitioners is increasing. However, information security extends into all areas of the economy, both in the private and public sectors, and is not substantially dependent on financial services. Demand is therefore potentially broadly based.

Looking ahead, although there is unlikely to be any upturn in the market in the near term and redundancies and unemployment are likely to track developments in the wider economy, security departments now have a better defined role than previously and information security is not the target for cost savings that it once was.

Read the...

Twitter: what is in it for IT professionals?

Twitter: what is in it for IT professionals?

Twitter is increasingly helping journalists to pick up and follow stories, but the media is not the only sector to benefit - IT professionals can get just as much out of tweeting.

1. Techno talk
2. Get in the know
3. A useful tool
4. Get involved
5. Useful links

The hype around the social networking tool is reaching new peaks, but Jeffrey Mann, a Gartner analyst who specialists in web collaboration, says a little over-reaction does not mean it is not useful to business.

He says IT staff can use it in much the same way as other business professionals - boosting their own public profile, keeping up with recent developments in the sector, and taking part in the day’s debate.

Read the whole article here.

-ken

Microsoft warns firms over skipping Vista to Windows 7

Microsoft warns firms over skipping Vista to Windows 7

Companies face operational problems if they try to upgrade to Windows 7 straight from Windows XP, Microsoft has warned.

Many firms have stuck with Windows XP instead of upgrading to Windows Vista, on grounds of costs and unwanted Vista features.

However, warns Microsoft, those firms that have stuck with XP may face problems if they leapfrog Vista and go straight to Windows 7, expected to be fully released early next year.

Gavriella Schuster, a senior director of Windows product management, said, "Make sure you take into consideration the risk of skipping Windows Vista. Deploying Windows Vista now will make the future transition to Windows 7 easier.

Read the whole article...

Fewer jobs for IT graduates

Fewer jobs for IT graduates

IT graduate vacancies are expected to fall 7.1% between 2008 and 2009, according to a report by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).

The drop is higher than the expected average drop in the recruitment market, which is 5.4%.

The association interviewed several hundred employers in the UK including Siemens, Deloitte and Cisco, and found starting salaries had fallen by 3.7%.

IT starting salaries range between £25,000 and £35,000, with the average at £27,000. There is no average increase in graduate starting salaries for the first time in the history of the report. < >

Read the rest of the article here.

-Ken

Nvidia to develop £200 Vista-capable laptop

Nvidia to develop £200 Vista-capable laptop

Nvidia is working with Microsoft to develop a £200 version of its Ion laptop running Windows Vista Home Edition.

Mike Ybarra, general manager for the Windows division at Microsoft, said, “What many people call a ‘netbook’ today is really a small notebook, and users expect it to perform like one. With Nvidia’s Ion platform combined with Windows Vista Home Premium, consumers will get an affordable, Windows experience in a small notebook or desktop PC.”

Although manufacturers originally aimed to sell netbooks as low-cost, very limited mobile devices, primarily for web browsing and e-mail, the machines have proved fully capable of running business software and even some multimedia applications.

Read the rest of the article here.

-Ken