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Under a Big Blue Shadow
PenguinCandidate writes "Linux server market share numbers can be tricky, with HP touting itself as a leader and IBM garnering all the press. For one analyst, it's all about identity." From the article: "HP can say that it has led the worldwide Linux server market for 29 consecutive quarters. HP can also say with confidence, thanks to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Server Tracker from May 2005, that it outpaced IBM by nearly eight percentage points in quarterly revenue share. And yet, that Big Blue thundercloud remains. "
IBM has become, at Gerstner's direction, a "global services juggernaut." Their support of Linux is not directly tied to a plan to sell more Linux servers. It is tied directly to their capability to provide comprehensive services through their Global Services division. It's a good strategy. That division is the bane of just about every other major tech services provider.
There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments. --Bene Gesserit Axiom
HP is actually going to be contributing to Ubuntu. Of course, their reason is so that they can sell laptops that work flawlessly with Ubuntu.
Still, it's pretty cool. They laptops will come with FreeDOS (no Windows!) and you can get an Ubuntu CD from HP.
Fiasco of Carly?
Complete and utter bollockssssss.... Fiasco of the Don Capellas cretinomoron - yes. Carly - no. Whatever people say about her any Compaq/HP shop can clearly tell you that during her reign the quality of hardware shipped drastically improved. If you have bought HPaq hardware over the last 6+ years you can clearly see the day when the cost saving idiot Capellas reign started. The quality of build immediately dropped to rock bottom. Passive cooling was replaced by cheap mexican fans which failed in 3-5 months, spec of the average box in fact dropped instead of rising. 512MB memory limit on a desktop down from 784 and thermal throttle on the CPU which effectively made it slower then the older models.
After that, during Carly it recovered to a more or less sane state - custom designed motherboards matched to the case instead of cheap chinese OEM shit, passive cooling assisted by the main chassis fan (an old Compaq TM), etc.
Whatever you say while I am not a Carly fan, she actually fixed a lot of the shit created by Don Cappellas. It would have been nice to see her go to be replaced by someone to improve further. Instead, she is being replaced by a Don Cappelas clone which means that all of us who buy Compaq are likely to have to look for an alternative vendor once again.
Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
http://www.sigsegv.cx/
Well, I have worked for both companies, so I personally have to say they both have good hardware. Each has had some line that left a bit to be desired, but overall, still good equipment.
But with that said, HP is acting more like the IBM of old, while IBM is acting like the HP of the 80's.
IBM is working with groups and pushing what they are into. I agree that their customer support is better than others. Sadly, they keep selling off their lines.
HP, OTH, is just wanting to sell hardware and it seems like they have killed their engineering side and pushed things with the sales side. IOW, they are taking a road that will allow for short term profits, but long term will kill them. You are not the first that I have heard say that HP cust. cupport is now abismal. That is sad. I knew some of the folks in Fort Collins, who did that work and they were sharp.
how does the song go? "I need a hero"?
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
... that at this stage of the game "Nondescript Old Beige Box In The Corner" still garners the most Linux server installation title... but that's not good marketing I suppose
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