Apple released updated versions of its MacBook notebooks, which are the first from Apple to include NVIDIA GeForce chips.
Vendors in the security space face double-duty pressure to not only best competitors but also to stay one step ahead of never-ending security threats. Here are 12 products the Test Center believes succeed at doing both.
From cool accessories to fresh laptops and smart phones, here are 25 new products to help keep mobile workers connected, protected and productive.
Inside This Issue: April 30, 2007
Cover Story
Playing Both Sides Of The Software Fence
What's a software partner to do these days? Join the software-as-a-service (SaaS) fray, stick with the more traditional model, or hedge its bets and do both?
>> VARs Grapple With High Price Of Software Talent
News Analysis
Cisco Primes Linksys For Small-Business Channel
Cisco Systems is strengthening its attack on the small-business market with the launch of a revamped channel program for its Linksys division later this year.
Storage As A Service Gets Vendor Backup
A wave of big vendors aim to push data backup services, a move that VARs say will help more businesses accept the concept of storage as a service.
Market Focus: Small Business
Distributors Fine-Tune Financing Programs
Distributors are mobilizing to get the word out about new credit and leasing programs, including incentives and higher credit limits to spark the interest of VAR customers.
Demand Generation
Copier, Printer Solution Providers Join Forces
PrinTrax, a veteran player in the copier market, and Sigmanet, an established IT solution provider, have teamed up after deciding that copier-printer convergence is outpacing the business model to support it.
Tech Focus
Hosted Security Answers The Call For Business Communications
As threats to business communications proliferate, more companies, vendors and VARs are turning to hosted security solutions.
Upgrade Notebook Storage On The Quick
Hitachi's Travelstar 2.5-inch Internal Hard Drive 2-in-1 Notebook PC Upgrade Kit provides quick upgrades along with a portable storage device that contains a backup copy of the data.
PC Case Disperses Plenty Of Hot Air
Antec’s Nine Hundred is one of the airiest PC cases ever examined by the CRN Test Center.
ShadowRAM: Rumors, Truth & Innuendo
Microsoft infuriates blogosphere and sends warning to Vista beta users, SAP-Oracle friction heats up at Sapphire, CA looks to clear its name and relaxing on the ranch with Craig Barrett.
These articles were mentioned in this issue of CRN.
• Avnet Thinks Up 14 New IBM Solutions
• Don't Worry, Be Managed With New Trend Micro Console
• Sun Apologizes After Leaving VARs Feeling Burned
• OEM Sales Hurt Lexmark
• Meet The New JBoss: Red Hat Readies New Strategy
• SAP Gives Partners First Look At Hosted ERP
• D-Link Targets Enterprise With Westcon Pact
• VARs Cry Foul On CDW
• Websense Makes Waves For SurfControl
• Partners Feel Growing Pains From Business Objects' Expansion
• Sun Miffs Partners With Direct-Sales Promo
• Bake-Off: Network Access Control Apps
• Digital Signs Point To The Channel
• Apple Profit Blows Away Wall Street Forecast
COLUMNISTS
Robert Faletra:
Steven Burke:
Larry Hooper:
Heather Clancy:
Real Values
There's Marketing, And There's Branding
Branding isn’t about giving away T-shirts with your logo on it. It’s about creating an experience or emotion that is memorable enough to talk about -- or to recommend.
On The Record
When Will OEMs Learn Not To Count On Dell?
When will OEMs realize it makes little to no sense to do a deal with Dell?
The Final Cut
Sun Set, Sun Rise
In response to an outcry from the channel, Sun Microsystems did the right thing and ended up including partners in its 25th anniversary sale promotion, originally made direct to customers. But the whole brouhaha should never have arisen in the first place.
Under The Radar
Is Offshoring Ethical?
Every time I get together with a group of solution providers, the subject eventually turns to hiring. So I thought my recent column on employee retention and offshoring would generate a little discussion. Boy, did it ever.
