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Acquiring Microsoft Skills
Further to the stories about people wanting to buy into or consolidate the Microsoft channel partners, I wonder if these people realise that there are many Microsoft skills in the market that are not employed by 'Gold' partners.
In the modern world, most resellers will have a level of Microsoft skill, often a very good level, however, they will not have been close enough to the Microsoft channel to upgrade their accreditation, therefore, there may be others for people to consider rather than just 'Gold' accredited partners.
Ban the Internet says Sir Elton!
Sir Elton John believes that the internet is killing music, not the usual rant about download and using to stream video and the like, even Sir Elton has taken this on board after some years of fighting against it, his view is that it is stifling innovation and creativity within the music industry by stopping people working together.
It would be fair to say that the internet has extended the 'geek' world to most normal humans as well, however, in many ways it will in years to come have no more impact on us than the TV did in the 60's and 70's.
I agree totally with Sir Elton that we need to get out more and not be a slave to the screen, however, finding a balance will mean more, not less, creativity in the long term.
As long as we 'use' technology rather than let is use us, we can co-exist.
Dsitribution Consolidation - Industry Blueprint?
Interesting that analyst Plimsoll reckons disties will consolidate more. Seems to basically say to me too many players operating poorly and being forced to take business to survive, been that way for sometime.
Perhaps the same comment can be aimed at the reseller community, as same rules seem to apply!
Carbon Footprint
Great to see Logicalis sponsoring the UK IT Environmental Board, a smart move based on the current PR around the subject. However, I still find it amazing that we pay taxes for people to study/report on this for us, and yet the private sector have to co-fund something that is mostly driven by public behaviour?
There is only one way we will get unified agreement about the issues and extent of the problem - read 10 articles and you are left with 10 different views on what is the cause/effect - and that is by all working together.
Answers on a postcard please!
A Virtualised World?
Interesting to see DNS getting into the virtualisation space, this has been a coming market for some time now. Also interested in the associated commentary, i.e. not surprised. Personally, I still feel this is a coming market, although I have no idea why the uptake has not been much higher sooner, why would you not want to dramatically reduce your Intel server farm (cost to maintain, upgrade, licences, etc) now?
This is really 'help a business control cost' technology, more should seriously consider doing so...
Managing Ego's - Merger/Acquisition
It is very interesting to read all the talk of super merger's and consolidation within the industry, let's just hope that all these can deal with the ego's involved, making people work with people when they are all used to being the boss is an interesting challenge.
Going on the 'first date' is always exciting, the 'engagement' is often intoxicating, however, you have to work very hard to make the 'marriage' work, especially once the 'honeymoon' period is over.
There are very few in our industry with a proven track record of making these go as smoothly as they all plan.
Avnet(irus)
For sometime I have advocated that there are too many distribution partners, this is a 'ure fire way to reduce this fact!
Having known both Avnet and Magirus for some years, this is a fascinating mix of culture - US meets Europe (Germany) head on. Without knowing the detail, the press announcement makes a lot of sense, combine two businesses into one; one that compliments each other and increases market coverage.
There are bound to be some countries that will not need two identical businesses operating, so there must be some economies to happen as this acquisition firms up.
I will watch, with great interest, what the major vendors mentioned, i.e. IBM/HP, will make of this. They 'bang the drum' for consolidation, however, will they see the 'new Avnet' as too big and powerful, thus adding more/other distributors into the game?
An interesting few months ahead for many...
No driving till 18/100mph Limit/Ban Poor Driving?
Seems like the car world has another issue to resolve, apart from greener cars that is, what to do with the youth and speed we should drive at.
I can see the merit in raising the age limit to 18, however, having been through this with my own and friends children, not really sure what difference there is in the kids of today driving one year later.
I also agree that the national speed limit should increase, especially in 'quiet periods', e.g. 00:00-06:00, cars and our major roads mean we can do this safely so why not let us?
However, before we make change we have to get on top of the very poor driving standards in our country. Driving below the speed limit can be illegal, staying in a lane should be illegal, outside lanes should be for overtaking only and policed as vociferously as speeding is.
There are many more poor drivers already on the road to blame/penalise the kids, the government needs to address this as part of it's 'blueprint', or should that be 'greenprint'!
Lord & Lady Beckham
I find it quite staggering to see the media attention on our very own 'Beckhams'.
Whatever you may think about them, they are just maximizing their 'brand', something we give accolades for in most industries. They also strike me, especially David, as being very level headed, I do not detect arrogance at all, he looked embarrassed at the attention at the recent Princess Diana event at Wembley, I think he is quite humble.
Having had the opportunity to watch David play many times live, he is a very special talent and while his career may be nearing it's end, he is still a very, very good footballer.
I also admire his 'bouncebackability', his resurgence since the World Cup debacle has been nothing short of the good old fashioned 'bulldog spirit' being shown. He is a man that, quite literally, has the world at his feet and yet he has worked harder to come back.
It would have been so easy to just take the money, however, he did not, he just worked even harder to prove people wrong.
I wish them all the luck in the US and, I believe, he will achieve what no other footballer has been able to do before, i.e. make the Americans take to the beautiful game and play proper football!
He is someone we should admire and respect for his 'bBritishness', not something that shows up too often these days.
Youth of Today/Management of Tomorrow!
We all know that, as a nation, we are one of the hardest working nations (if not the hardest nation) in the world. This is borne by a work ethic that is linked to the way the world has changed (small planet, opportunities abound, economic growth), this has almost been a 'baby boomer' era for many of us. I would argue that this started in the 60's, solidified in the 70's and exploded through the 80's/90's.
What is interesting is that the people who fueled this growth are fully grown adults, while there are many years left in some, the 'new management of tomorrow' are just starting out on their careers.
The current management'are from the live to work breed, the new management are from the 'work to live' breed - no bad thing for the health service. It will be interesting to see how commerce deals with a new set of business drivers, ones that will not allow business to dictate and control our very limited time on this planet.
