Business leaders and IT management are heavily supporting cloud-based computing — and with good reason.  The rapid growth in cloud computing seems to deliver benefits and technology efficiencies that administrators have prayed, and dreamt about, about for years. Most new IT innovations over the past few years have been pointed toward cloud computing.  Software...

What’s in a Cloud?  Why is it called a ‘cloud’ in the first place?  Is it all pie in the sky?  Read on as this new series will give you all the information you need to know about cloud computing, its benefits and the concerns related to its immediate adoption for some. Most have concluded that cloud computing got its name from the many network diagrams and...

Trend #4: Maintenance Just like your car can’t change its own oil without a mechanic; computers can’t perform their own maintenance without interaction from an administrator.  Remember, computers will only do what you tell it to.  Every server requires care and regular maintenance to help ensure reliable operations, secure application delivery and data...

Trend #3:   Environmental Controls and Energy Costs – Carbon Footprint Issues Most companies put the bottom line costs and the related strategic planning regarding power and environmental controls costs at the same level in the decision tree as to planning for what kind of candy to put out on the front desk of the reception area. 7-10 years ago one could assume...

Continued from Part 1:    Actually, you’ve had experience with something like this when you’ve used a computer; in fact you are experiencing it right now! When you use a software program on your computer, the operating system “virtualizes” its ability to access the computer hardware; so that only the program you are using has access to it; your program is able...

 Yep…I got one.  We’ll see if it lasts 14 days, or goes back.  Your comments are appreciated.  Update: 11/05/2010 Well, after almost 1 week with the iPAD – I have these initial thoughts:  First and foremost – I went into this R&D project with very low expectations. Why? Well, I’m a PC guy for one, and two I have iPODS, iPOD Touch’s, etc. So...

Physical Space has its Limitations – Trend #2 Over the last 25 years, businesses have gone from being paper based to fully automated and paperless. Computerized systems were termed as back office automation systems almost strictly used for payroll, accounting, and related business management tools. Again, thanks to Moore’s Law, the business process has...

I gotta tell you all – I have loved every minute, from minute 1, with my Sprint EVO4G phone.  After more than 4 months of use – it does everything for me.  I don’t carry 2 phones anymore, love the apps, love the ‘brain break’ games – especially the shared ones with my family and friends. After 10+ years using Blackberry, it...

Buzz aside, virtualization is not a new technology.  Multiple operating systems have been hosted in mainframes for over 30 years.  Four recent trends have moved virtualization to the forefront in today’s computing environments.  When you look at these trends, you can easily see that virtualization is much more than a fad; coming from an industry that has...

If you are of the mind that everyone else in the world understands virtualization, while you’re still trying to understand just what it is to begin with, and how you might take advantage of it or not, you’re not alone. Virtualization is a new technology.  (Actually, it’s a pretty well-established technology, but a merging of conditions happening just now has...