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------- THE COURSEY REPORT --------
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October 15, 2004
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http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138181-1
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In This Edition
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David Coursey:
1. Microsoft's Software Assurance: Not a Bad Deal?
2. Microsoft Office Servers
3. Human RFID Tags: Lifesavers or Too Much Trouble?
4. Turn Your Desktop into a Control Center
5. Getting Ready for Grid: Tapping the Juice In Underused
Servers
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David Coursey
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Microsoft's Software Assurance: Not a Bad Deal?
A conversation with Yankee Group analyst Laura DiDio turned
into a piece discussing her survey findings when she asked
about Microsoft Software Assurance. It seems the
controversial subscription licensing plan has morphed into
something many customers would actually benefit from. This
is in stark contrast to complaints back in 2001 when SA
debuted that it would double or triple the cost of
Microsoft software to enterprise customers.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138184-1
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Microsoft Office Servers
I kicked out a column reacting to a Mary Jo Foley story
reporting rumors of server versions of Excel, Visio, and
InfoPath as part of Microsoft's next Office release. Now,
this is the stuff of rumor but it's a coming from a number
of usually good sources.
We don't, however, know what the servers are supposed to do.
Perhaps they would support thin-client installations, like
Linux? Or maybe they are some baby steps in the direction of
web services. Perhaps the servers will provide functionality
to web-based apps? Or maybe they are something else, though
I am not sure what that might be.
I am a big believer in web services as a new delivery
platform that can potentially deliver tremendous value and,
in the process, make software exciting again. Web services
can help modularize applications, making complex apps easier
to create, manage, and fix when they break.
I also believe Microsoft and other software companies must
move to a revenue model that doesn't rely on customers
making major, occasional purchases they can easily delay.
Many seem to only buy new software when hardware must be
replaced.
What we need is for customers and technology providers to
have a relationship that makes it easy and cheap for
customers to use the most current technology available.
But what we need most is new software that creates such
business value that it defies the trend toward "commodity
computing" and makes customers happy to invest more in their
software than they do today.
That's the next frontier.
News: New Microsoft Office Servers on the Way
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138187-1
Opinion: Server Versions of Microsoft Apps Speak to Web
Services Future
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138190-1
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Human RFID Tags: Lifesavers or Too Much Trouble?
eWEEK.com's Health Industry Editor M.L. Baker wrote a column
this week on the FDA's recent approval of RFID chips in
human patients. While privacy advocates are concerned about
the implications of this approval, Baker instead points out
that RFID tags may be more trouble than they're worth. I've
written a counter-column supporting their use in certain
medical situations.
Analysis: Medical Bar Code Implant May Not Be Worth the
Trouble
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138193-1
Medical RFID Tagging Could Save Lives
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138196-1
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Turn Your Desktop into a Control Center
I posted a blog item linking to an ExtremeTech how-to
article on using multiple monitors with a single Windows
desktop. This is one of the technologies Microsoft proposes
as a real productivity-enhancer, yet it can be difficult
to implement on today's hardware. Loyd Case will show you
how.
Turn Your Desktop into a Control Center
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138199-1
Doing the Multimon
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138202-1
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Getting Ready for Grid: Tapping the Juice In Underused
Servers
Interested in grid computing? I hosted an eSeminar this week
that served as an introduction to take advantage of the
unused CPU cycles in your business. You can view (and listen
to) the recorded presentation and/or download the slides on
the eSeminarsLive Web site. If you've never been there, take
a look around. We do literally dozens of these online
seminars. They're free, and a good way to invest an hour in
learning something new.
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138205-1
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Until next time, have a great week!
David Coursey is a contributing editor and columnist for
eWEEK.com. You can contact him at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit his web site at
http://eletters.eweek.com/zd1/cts?d=79-1229-20-37-22237-138208-1 .
Besides his writing, David is also a consultant to several
technology companies and organizes industry events.
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