The Test Center highlights noteworthy PC components that came through the lab so far this year. Manufacturers' ability to build components that support both quad- and dual-core hardware platforms continues to impress us.
Acer's latest Aspire Gemstone laptops come just in time for the holiday shopping blitz, targeting consumers with a range of entertainment-focused models.
It's been a busy quarter for shakeups in some of the industry's top channel companies. Here we look at several channel executives who have come and gone in the last few months.
Inside This Issue: Jan. 22, 2007
Cover Story
It's Easier To Be Green
Whether or not you believe in global warming, get used to the color green as companies across the IT channel are stepping up their environmental efforts. Solution providers, in turn, can use these activities to write their own scripts for green dialogues that could translate into that other green stuff: money.
>> SLIDE SHOW: TACKLING E-WASTE
>> 16 HIGH-TECH GREEN GIANTS
>> 10 GREEN WEB RESOURCES
The Talent Gap
The inability to find and retain technical talent looms as the single biggest problem facing solution providers in 2007, just as the channel is poised for a breakout growth year. Vendors also are feeling the pinch, and they are exacerbating the channel labor shortage by hiring away top technical talent from solution providers.
>> VENDORS RAIDING VAR SALESPEOPLE
>> FIXING A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
Also In This Issue:
E-Health Checkup Could Benefit VARs
Connecticut's Lt. Gov., who's CEO of solution provider Pinnacle Group, is talking up e-health initiatives.
Demand Generation: Hot Leads, Cold Calls
This IT consultant is digging up new business by working the phone.
Midmarket: Hunger Pangs
IBM's and HP's services arms have a growing appetite for midsize accounts.
Upstarts & Startups: Solar Power
An MSP platform is dawning for network management software maker SolarWinds.
Home Integration: Sound Barriers
Dolby is keeping an ear to the ground as the digital media and home networking market takes off.
VAR Provides 'Expert' Storage Assistance
VAR Expert Server Group is answering the call to offer cheaper solutions -- and reaping profits along the way.
Review: StarTech.com Adapter Card Shines
StarTech.com offers a unique PCMCIA-to-PCI host controller card that works with any 32-bit PCI slot.
ShadowRAM: Rumors, Truth & Innuendo
Benioff goes green, Dell and Cisco on '24', Big Blue treats IBM Fellows like pashas.
These articles were mentioned in this issue of CRN.
• 10 Green Web Resources
• Gathering Intelligence
• New Tech Data Division Sharpens Blade Focus
• Apple Sweet In 1Q, Sour On 2Q
• Here Comes More Sun
• IBM To Share All At Lotusphere
• Microsoft, Nortel: Great Communications
• Westcon Group Goes To Market For Trend Info
• HP Gains More PC Share Against Dell
• IBM, LSI Make SMB Storage Move
• Strange But True Scenes From CES
• 10 Hot Products From CES
• 10 Best Products Of The Year
• Under The Hood: 5 MSP Platforms
• Intel Builds 80-Core Chip
COLUMNISTS
Steven Burke:
Robert Faletra:
Larry Hooper:
Heather Clancy:
Real Values
Thinking Green Could Be Sound Practice For VARs
Solution providers involved in selling green today say it keeps them engaged with their clients for a longer period of time.
The Final Cut
HP-Lenovo Face-Off
When it comes to helping solution providers close sales with valuable co-op funding, Hewlett-Packard gets it, and Lenovo is a distant second.
On The Record
Numbers Don't Always Point You The Right Way
There are too many bad decisions made based on research used without knowledge of what really happens in the market.
Under The Radar
Security A Commodity?
The security market is set for some serious twists and turns this year as Microsoft muscles its way into the market.
