Desktops & Servers

Caringo is giving away the latest version of its storage cluster software as well as a nifty tool for end users to protect and manage their files in the cloud.

During an epic office and lab clean-up, I got rid of 386s, 486s, and old Pentium PCs, but kept a 4MHz Z80 KayPro PC. This led me to the question: "What's the oldest PC that you're still using?"

HP may never be especially consumer-Linux friendly, but lately the company has been making it easier for business Linux users to get what they need. And, that includes Ubuntu and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop and Server.

All this pilot fish did was check the serial number on a user's printer so he could order toner. But now the user says her PC isn't working -- and it's fish's fault.

Pilot fish fixing a PC in a school library notices the keyboard is filthy, so he snaps the keys out, shakes out crumbs and dust and reassembles it. But next day, he gets another call from the same library.

IBM is offering corporate IT two new cloud-based services. But it's doubtful either will have much success in the market.

A server has gotten flaky, and this IT pilot fish determines that the problem is a failing motherboard. It's still under a support contract, so fish calls the vendor -- and gets a surprise.

User calls this pilot fish to ask if IT has the external CD writer that belongs to the marketing department. Sure enough, IT does. But when fish arrives to return it, user has another question.

Fresh from the success of its "Laptop Hunters" ad campaign, Microsoft is feeling pretty cocky about how it's doing against Apple --- so much so that Brad Brooks, Microsoft's corporate vice president for Windows consumer product marketing, says that Apple is now "scared" of Microsoft's success.

Why will you want to buy Linux desktop rather than a new Mac or Windows 7 this year? In one word: Price.

This company replaces its desktop PCs on a three-year cycle, so IT is constantly replacing machines. But lately, more and more of the new PCs are DOA.

Before getting into difficult debugging of a computer that wont start up, try some easy stuff. You may get lucky.

Desktop Linux must be doing something right-it's got Lenovo saying that it's dead on arrival.

There's a lot of good stuff in Ubuntu 9.04, but great performance with ATI graphic chips isn't among its virtues.

In today's podcast: AMD pulls dual-core server chips from lineup; RealNetworks CEO defends RealDVD in court; and Baidu says business will get better.