E-week (24 July 2006)

94 Pages·2006·8.971 MB·English

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T H E E N T E R P R I S E N E W S W E E K L Y
NEWS & ANALYSIS
Exchange
Beta 2 gets
closer to
finish line
11
PC makers
cut prices
to thwart
slowdown
18 TTHHEE
Higher speed of draft
spec is tempting, but
interoperability is a
880022..1111nn
crapshoot. PAGE 33
digital EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT!
NEWS LABS STAN GIBSON GGAAMMBBLLEE
Intel slices Ubuntu 6.06 is Know how
layers of man- our analysts’ terrorist attacks
agement fat to top pick among will affect
speed decision Linux desktop your offshore
making distributions providers
EW1 EW3 EW4
BY ANDREW GARCIA
JULY 24, 2006
VOL. 23, NO. 29 • $6
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f
THIS WEEK
Ubiquitous wi-fi is almost here— there for the most part, Garcia says, but eat into India’s outsourcing dominance.
in urban areas and many corporate interoperability between products will Gibson reports on Page 14 that this real-
campuses, at least. Last week, take some time to mature. ization hit home for investors last week,
walking around San Francisco, I was More ready, it appears, for produc- asWipro shares fell 5 percent July 18 on
able to check my e-mail in several spots tion deployment is Microsoft’s latest concerns of wage inflation, despite the
without having to go pay for access at messaging and communications plat- fact that profits for the company were
Starbucks. The reason, apart form,Exchange Server 2007. up 44 percent. A week earlier, all that
from demand, is that stan- Though in Beta 2, the product financial analysts wanted to ask Infosys
dards—namely802.11b, which is feature-complete, writes executives about during the company’s
most access points run—have Senior Editor Peter Galli on conference call was dealing with wage
paved the way for open access. Page 11. Though it’s sometimes inflation, turnover and training. India
Wi-Fi standards have advanced difficult to tell the difference could be losing its edge, leading many to
quickly over the past few years between a “major” and “minor” wonder if U.S. companies will cut and
from “g” to “n,” picking up upgrade at Microsoft, Exchange run to the next source of cheap labor.
throughput speed and dis- Server 2007 does boast some China, perhaps? ´
tance along the way, as users big new features, including
SCOT PETERSEN
became anxious to become a new user interface and Contact eWEEK Editor Scot Petersen at
truly untethered. command-line scripting shell. [email protected].
But as eWeek Labs Technical Analyst eWeek Executive Editor Stan Gibson
Andrew Garcia reveals in his extensive reported, back in February after a trip to PODCASTS
interoperability tests of draft 802.11n India, that wage inflation will begin to
routers, access points and adapters (start-
ing on Page 33), it’s wise for corporate go.eweek.com/podcasts
buyers to look before they leap into the
OnSecurity
latest “n” technology. Advancements
in throughput speed and distance are eWEEK Senior Writer Ryan Naraine talks
to security researcher/hacker Dave Aitel
F
WEEK.COM on the recent spate of zero-day attacks
Intel CEO Paul Otel- targeting Microsoft Office users.
lini presides; OEMs eWEEK InfraSpectrum
rINTEL’S DARING DUO Intel show off server,
eWEEK Labs Technology Editor Peter Cof-
will launch the INTEL CORE 2 gaming, desktop
fee looks at business intelligence tools for
DUO on July 27 from its Santa and laptop features
ALWAYSON STANFORD SUM- process and factory operations.
Clara, Calif., headquarters, and newly enhanced with Core 2
MIT July 25-27, but he says it’s
our hardware man John G. Duo; Spooner previews it all; always a hot showcase for new eWEEK Interview
Spooner says the event is sure you come and see.
companies and ideas. Keynotes eWEEK Senior Editor Peter Galli talks
to cap off a tumultuous period
WHAT A TURN-ON What’s the are always good, too: Look for with Christine Martino, vice president
for the chip maker. Intel is
secret behind creating conta- Salesforce.com’s Marc Benioff, of HP’s open-source and Linux orga-
counting on the two new chips
gious behavior? Is all software among others, to drop some nization, on her reaction to Microsoft’s
to help jazz up its image as pro-
going open source? Is SAAS nuggets of wisdom. decision to partner with XenSource.
vider of performance chips, with
(software as a service) finally a
rival Advanced Micro Devices YOU OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES TestRun
Thing? We don’t know if Senior
Labs has been poking at the
breathing down its neck and WriterChris Preimesberger eWEEK Labs Director Jim Rapoza
newVISTA BUILD 5472, and
market share dribbling away. can get all the answers at the talks to eWEEK Labs Technical Analyst
Senior Analyst Jason Brooks
Michael Caton about Michael’s look at
created a slide show to give us
digital TRY IT NOW! two CRM (customer relationship man-
an idea of what they’re finding.
go.eweek.com/zinio agement) products—BizAutomation.
Some nice stuff: In the Ultimate
com’s BizAutomation CRM + Business
Exclusive bonus coverage for digital edition subscribers: Edition, several application
Management and Avidian Technology’s
interfaces are TV-worthy, such
News Labs Stan Gibson Prophet 3.0 Enterprise—that let sales-
as the Windows Security splash
Intel slices layers Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Know how people access CRM functionality from
screen at first boot and the Win-
of management is our analysts’ terrorist attacks the tool they are most comfortable
dows Media Center screens.
fat to speed top pick among will impact your with—namely, e-mail.
decision making Linux desktop offshore providers
distributions
www.eweek.com JULY 24, 2006 n eWEEK 5
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©2006 Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, Xeon, Xeon Inside, Intel. Leap ahead., and the Intel. Leap ahead. logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other
countries. All rights reserved.
JULY 24, 2006
Editorial Director Eric Lundquist
Editor Scot Petersen
CONTENTS
Executive Editor/News Larry Dignan
Director/eWEEK Labs Jim Rapoza
Executive Editor/eWEEK Labs Deb Donston
Technology Editor Peter Coffee
Executive Editor Stan Gibson
Executive Editor/Technology Sean Gallagher
NEWS
News Editors John Pallatto, Lisa Vaas,
Steve Bryant, Don Sears
Senior Editors Jeffrey Burt, Peter Galli,
Paula Musich, Darryl K. Taft
Senior Writers Renee Boucher Ferguson,
JNoahrna inHea,z Carhdr,i sM Partet iHmiensebse, rRgyear,n NEWS& 25 XenSource and Micro- OPINION
John G. Spooner, Wayne Rash
Staff Writers Scott Ferguson, Deborah softmake Linux and
Rothberg
ANALYSIS Windows Server virtual-
gWEEK LABS ization interoperable. 5 This eWEEK: The latest
West Coast Technical Director Cameron Sturdevant tech might not be best.
TecShenSniecioanrli oAArnn Waallryyisstettssr MAHneicnnherya CeBl haCeltnaatzoanr,, JAansdorne wBr oGoakrscia 11 M2 iocfr oEsxcohfta nhgoep e2s0 B07e ta 25 sIBouMrc ber ivnigrtsu aXlieznat ioopne tno- 8 Eric Lundquist: Web
2.0 holds lessons for
FEATURES allays training fears. its x86 servers.
the business 2.0 world.
Associate Editor, Solutions Series David Weldon
Senior Editor Kevin Fogarty 14 Wage inflation threat- 27 Microsoft strategizes
ens to derail India’s on tapping partners for
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
Managing Editor Rick Dagley outsourcing companies. new markets.
Deputy Managing Editor Debra Perry
Senior CCooppyy E Cdhitioerf JEimmi lWy Zilluiarimchs 16 GM and Ralph Szygen- 27 Potential partners tune
Copy Editors Kelsey Adams, Vikki Lipset, da write a new chapter in to hear Microsoft’s
Shane O’Neill
Newsletter Editors Jenni Miller, Alethea Yip in IT best practices. message.
ART DEPARTMENT 18 Red-hot deals on PCs 30 The Buzz
Senior Art Director Stephen Anderson
Associate Art Director Paul Connolly raise a dilemma for
Senior Production Designer Tara-Ann Fasulo
Senior Designer Chip Buchanan manufacturers. fWEEKLABS 8
gWEEK
Publisher
Karl Elken
Business Manager 40 REVIEW: Microsoft’s
Eric Berk
Marketing IIS 7.0 Web server’s 33 Our View: Microsoft’s
PeterE Crich iaLcucbheicakro, ,S Aesnsioorc Riaetes eRaercseha Drcirhe cMtoarnager management updates support for ODF is a step
Production Manager deserve a closer look. in the right direction.
Michael DiCarlis
Ad TraTfifmic BCeononredttinator 42 REVIEW: Ubuntu 6.06 33 Reader mail
LTS is a Linux distro
41 Jim Rapoza: Support
that impresses with its
ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA for Windows XP likely
usability, active com-
Chairman & CEO 16 will be all too short-lived.
Robert F. Callahan munity and long-term
Chief Financial Officer
Mark Moyer support. 45 Peter Coffee: Having
Executive Vice President &Chief Content Officer data doesn’t necessarily
Michael J. Miller 44 Labs On-Site: ITV
Executive Vice President,Licensing & Legal Affairs, mean you should use it.
General Counsel 19 Labs: Winternals and Direct reaps the
Gregory Barton
XenSource moves bol- benefits of Interactive 47 Spencer F. Katt: The
PRESIDENTS
sterMicrosoft’s catalog. Intelligence’s call Kitty “vishes” for the old
Scott McCarthy (Game Group)
Sloan Seymour (Enterprise Group) center system. days of phishing scams.
Jason Young (Consumer Tech/Small Business Group) 19 Work in Progress:
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS eWEEK Labs evaluates
Kenneth Beach (Corporate Sales) ESB offerings. A DICEY
Ira Becker (Game Group)
Jim Louderback (Editorial Director, Consumer/Small Business Group)
Angelo Mandarano (Internet) 20 Net neutrality elicits
Martha Schwartz (Custom Solutions Group) BET?
Michael Vizard (Editorial Director, Enterprise Group) a debate between two
VICE PRESIDENTS of its proponents.
John Davison (Game Group)
Elaine Ebner (Corporate Sales) 22 Metasploit’screator
Karl Elken (Publisher, eWEEK) 33 The 802.11n
Aaron Goldberg (Market Experts) releases a malware
Barry Harrigan (Web Buyers Guide) spec promises
KrisMtiinc hHaoellm Kersie (gInetre (rMnaatriokneat lE Lxipceerntss)ing) search engine. some sizzling
RRaiyc kL eLdedhrab (aGumam (eIn Gterrnoeutp)) 23 Symantecsays the throughput, but
Eric LundCqhurisist (MEadgitionrnia (l InDtiererncetot)r, eWEEK) Microsoft Vista code draft-based gear
SJcimot tM MccCDaabneie (lP (CG aMmaeg Gazrionuep)) harbors vulnerabilities. doesn’t always
Paul O’Reilly (Event Marketing Group) play nice.
Beth Repeta (Human Resources) 23 Microsoftsays Power-
Dave Rock (Circulation)
Chris Stetson (Research/Market Intelligence) Point has a security flaw. 39 eWEEK Labs
Stephen Sutton (Audience Development, Consumer/Small Business)
Stephen Veith (Enterprise Group Publishing Director) shares its
Monica Vila (Event Marketing Group) 24 Intel’s “Montecito”
Randy Zane (Corporate Communications) 802.11n testing
chip is met with both
methodology.
eWEEK editorial staff members can praise and skepticism.
be reached at [phone] or
[phone], or via e-mail using the following formula: firstname_
[email protected]. For example: [email protected].
(Don’t use middle initials in address.)
www.eweek.com JULY 24, 2006 n eWEEK 7
&
NEWS ANALYSIS
WEBLOG
ERIC LUNDQUIST: UP FRONT
Keeping the bubble inflated
ERIC’S PICKS FROM GWEEK BLOGS
go.eweek.com/weblog
WEB 2.0 FACES TROUBLE ON CONSUMER END, BUT B2B SIDE IS OK
@
Is web2.0 a bubble mation is becoming part of the information
DAN BRIODY
about to burst? And technology infrastructure. The benefits of
Wanted: Cyber-czar
was there ever a Web knowing how your company uses electricity,
2.0 in the first place? heating, cooling and having part informa-
These are the questions tion travel along the manufacturing cycle It’s a really important job.
that are taking up an with the actual part is apparent. Under- I’m sure that’s why it’s taking
awful lot of keystrokes in standing a business benefit and then build- so long to find the right can-
the blogosphere (a term ing products that can access and leverage didate. I’m talking, of course,
that I wholeheartedly that benefit is a real market that the coolest about the much-ballyhooed
wish would disappear) and which hold some consumer social network could only wish to assistant secretary of cyber-
import for the business-to-business market- emulate. security at the Department of
place. I think that, on the consumer side, A second positive aspect of the business Homeland Security. It’s such an
the bubble will, indeed, burst. However, I 2.0 world are the benefits of virtualization. important job that it took the
think the B2B side will do just fine this time While the promise of virtual worlds in the administration four years and a
around. game industry are still not being met, the threatening bill from Congress
Om Malik (gigaom.com) has been one of nitty-gritty virtual business world is deliver- to even create the position.
the more vocal bloggers ringing the alarm ing on its promise now: operating systems And it’s so critical to our
bell that Web 2.0 is about to burst. The very that can run over many processors; virtual nation’s security that, since it
ingredients of 2.0 companies—pure Web storage networks made up of many physi- was announced one year ago
platforms geared to social interactions—will cal devices; and virtual hosted applications this month, it has remained
prove their undoing, goes the argument. where users can subscribe individually or unfilled. I guess this is as good
Social Web gatherings, whether based on on the company level and can have updates a time as ever to ask yourself,
blogs, personality descriptions, podcasts and new capabilities seamlessly delivered. Do I feel safer? 7/18/06
or videocasts, have some inherent hurdles These are changing the nature of business @
between being a cool place to hang out and computing. Companies such as Salesforce.
STEVE BRYANT
a business that can gen- com,VMware and Net-
erate revenues. BUSINESS 2.0 IS TYING Suite have led the way Google on
your dashboard
Here are a few of in proving that virtual
IN THE DIGITAL WORLD
the challenges fac- applications are faster,
ing Web 2.0: Big sites TO THE REAL WORLD. more accessible and ABI Research analysts say
require big, expensive more robust than appli- Google and Microsoft may be
infrastructures for support; big social sites cations that must be installed, updated and about to do battle over the
attract not only cool people but every seedy maintained within the corporation. in-car navigation market. ABI’s
character with a Web connection; and cool A third segment of the business 2.0 world Dan Benjamin says Google has
sites that try to morph into a business must mimics the consumer side in social applica- been making a big push into
get over financial, legal and management tions. Why not get a bunch of CEOs or CIOs location-aware advertising,
hurdles that are sure to trip up those that or any other CXOs to meet on the Web and so why not overlay location-
don’t remember and haven’t learned from share their experiences? But CEOs really aware adverts on top of nav
bubble No. 1. aren’t all that computer savvy as a rule, and points in a car? Google Watch
The difference between the current the other CXOs have to think about corpo- isn’t sure ABI’s educated
B2B Web plans and those on the consumer rate disclosure rules and company privacy guess is worthy of the title
side couldn’t be greater. The business 2.0 policies before they can all start hanging “research,” since anyone who
world is tying in the digital world to the real around the virtual water cooler. To get big, saw Google’s recent patent
world. There was a flurry of interest recently social applications need lots of users, but parade has already arrived at
whenHewlett-Packard labs introduced its that very growth leads to legal, political the same conclusions. But,
Memory Spot chip. That chip, about the size and management restrictions. Maybe those combine Google in-car nav
of a tomato seed, has a 10MB-per-second restrictions can be overcome, but, right now, with Google’s dMarc acquisi-
transfer rate and can store about 4MB of I’d bet that the real and virtual worlds of tion and radio ad plans, and
data. It is a long road from a lab experiment the business 2.0 Web will be what keeps the it looks like Google may be
to a product, but whether it be a Memory business bubble from bursting. ´ pimping your ride (in one way
Spot chip, RFID (radio-frequency identifica- or another) sooner than you
tion) chip, an enhanced bar code or a Dust Editorial Director Eric Lundquist can be reached think. 7/18/06
Networks wireless sensor, real-world infor- at [email protected].
8 eWEEK n JULY 24, 2006 www.eweek.com