Jessica Davis

After recession-related IT budget freezes that took the blame for many delayed technology projects and hardware refreshes, the stuff that was supposed to be hot in 2009 — desktop virtualization, thin client and zero client computing — is getting more attention again in 2010. Are you ready? Some IT organizations looking to upgrade their fleet […]

Think the Apple iPad is just for consumers? Not according to Cisco, which is introducing its Cisco WebEx Meeting Center for the iPad, available immediately from the App Store. The free application allows users to join and participate in online meetings—viewing and sharing slideshows and other content as well as using WebEx chat—from their Apple […]

Are you getting a lot of help desk support calls today? Blue screen of death? Disappearing icons? Weird keyboard problems? Chances are someone has played an April Fools’ prank on your unsuspecting user. Yes, it’s April 1 again. Check out Channel Insider’s list of the top eight computer pranks that could be sprung on your […]

Cultural issues may be the biggest stumbling blocks to recovering ROI (return on investment) in desktop virtualization implementations. That’s because while the overall solution – thin clients and back end infrastructure – can cost the same or more than just updating an enterprise’s PCs. The real cost savings that companies hope to realize comes from […]

Has your systems management or security vendor recently taken more business direct? Looking for an alternative to Symantec or another security giant? BigFix is introducing its formal channel partner program called PlatformONE and has added a Symantec and CA channel veteran as its channel chief. BigFix’s solution uses an agent-based technology to deliver intelligence (patch […]

Job declines are narrowing for the U.S. economy, but things still haven’t turned around enough so that we are adding jobs. The private sector of the economy shed another net 23,000 jobs between February and March, according to the most recent ADP National Employment Report from payroll processing and HR outsourcing firm ADP. The service-providing […]

A handful of big technology vendors have announced zero-percent financing programs recently, including HP, Dell and Cisco. (One Cisco partner who works with small business even recently pointed out to Channel Insider that with the zero-percent financing on a unified communications upgrade that he was able to offer to his customer Wolfgang Puck Coffee, that […]

Aruba Networks has introduced its new Virtual Branch Networking 2.0, designed to bring networking services to small branches and home offices by introducing a cloud element to the overall solution. “With VBN 1.0 we provided the secure connection,” said Mike Tennefoss, head of strategic marketing at Aruba. “With 2.0, we are leveraging that infrastructure to […]

Forecasts are all over the place in terms of just how many iPads Apple will sell. The only certain thing is that most everyone has an opinion. Morgan Stanley is reporting that Apple’s Asian suppliers will ship 8 million to 10 million units in 2010, compared with a previous forecast of more than 5 million […]

Distribution giant Avnet (NYSE:AVT) has announced a definitive agreement to buy storage-centric distributor Bell Microproducts (NASDAQ:BELM), marking the largest acquisition in Avnet’s history and one that will expand the company’s product offerings and geographies. Specifically, Avnet will get Bell Micro’s stronghold—its hard disk drive business—plus a range of other products and geography expansions. Wall Street […]

Apple channel partners have told Channel Insider that their customers are plenty interested in Apple’s iPad, asking to buy the $500-plus tablet-sized device through the channel. Certainly Apple’s iPhone has been making more inroads into business strongholds. But a new report from market research company NDP Group shows consumers who are most aware of the […]

Looking to beat Intel in performance per watt, Advanced Micro Devices has announced the availability of its most recent server platform, the first eight- and 12-core x86 processors for high-volume 2P and value 4P servers. Server makers HP, Dell, Acer, Cray and SGI immediately announced support with new systems based on the new AMD Magny-Cours […]