| Friday was another repeat, this time from May | | | | virtualisation software and allows multiple |
| 15, 2006. However, TCR does not want to leave | | | | Operating Systems (Linux or Windows) to be |
| you empty handed and is bringing you an | | | | run as guests on a single system (the host, |
| article by one of our staff members, Paul ( | | | | which can be either Linux or Windows). This |
| ). Although Paul is from the UK, he takes a | | | | is one threat Microsoft has seen and |
| keen interest in reading about Jim Cramer's | | | | responded to by improving its Virtual Server |
| Mad Money (and of course at the best JCMM | | | | support offering and making it available for |
| site on the 'Net - !) and hopes you will | | | | free. However, is this too little too late? |
| enjoy his insight into one of Jim's opinions. | | | | |
| | | | Xen's benefit is that it's open source, |
| Cramer is currently favouring a buy into | | | | therefore bugs and security issues will be |
| Microsoft (MSFT), believing the bad times are | | | | fixed quicker, possibly even before the |
| behind and it's back on the up. An analysis | | | | problem is public knowledge, as the source |
| of the share prices over the past few months | | | | code is visible for everyone to evaluate and |
| shows that Microsoft is over its lowest | | | | test for insecurities. A quick response to |
| points ($21.51) and gradually climbing | | | | bugs and security is critical in a business |
| (currently $24.40). One could argue that | | | | environment and an area Microsoft can not |
| Cramer is right. | | | | compete within due to its closed source |
| | | | nature. |
| However, continued changes in Vista's release | | | | |
| date, even if it means a more stable and | | | | Virtualisation is becoming a more important |
| secure Operating System will be released (or | | | | area due to the increasing costs for power. |
| that is the theory). Microsoft's OS and | | | | Fortunately, hardware is becoming more |
| webbrowser cycle is poor as it is: | | | | powerful, often more powerful than is |
| | | | actually required, so virtualisation is |
| * Windows XP was released in 2001 | | | | definitely for today as well as the future. |
| | | | Why invest in hardware for 6 servers when all |
| * Internet Explorer was released in 2001 | | | | 6 could run from within one operating system |
| | | | through virtualisation? |
| Internet Explorer 7 is set for release in the | | | | |
| first half of 2007 and Windows Vista is set | | | | With Vista and Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft |
| for general release in the first quarter of | | | | is trying to play catch-up, but the fact is |
| 2007. Both products will offer many | | | | it now has seriously tough competition. There |
| improvements and new features over the older | | | | is now a big take up of alternative browsers, |
| versions but the reality is very little of it | | | | office applications and operating systems. |
| is new. | | | | While the market change might be slow, it's |
| | | | definitely happening. I cannot see Microsoft |
| One feature to finally reach Internet | | | | being in the same market position in 10 years |
| Explorer is tabbed browser. To a | | | | that it is now. Its market share will |
| non-technical person, who just uses what's | | | | continue to evaporate. |
| supplied on their MS Windows desktop, this | | | | |
| may seem new and exciting, however tabbed | | | | The Bottom Line: |
| browser has been around since 1996 (although | | | | |
| it was a feature in a non-public beta version | | | | Microsoft is facing serious threats in the |
| of InternetWorks since 1994) and has been | | | | home, education and business desktop arena. |
| available in popular browsers such as Opera | | | | It's facing threats in the business |
| and MozillaFirefox for several years. | | | | environment as a server (aside from as a |
| | | | webserver, where Linux/Unix is in the |
| Microsoft won the first browser war but now | | | | majority). Microsoft might hit a high when |
| it's coming to a battle in many areas. | | | | Vista is (finally) released, however Bill |
| Product cycles are quicker for open source | | | | Gates stepping down in the way that he is |
| software such as OpenOffice.org, | | | | does suggest to me that the bulk of the money |
| MozillaFirefox and MozillaThunderbird - new | | | | has been made and it's now time to do |
| features, bug fixes, and security updates are | | | | something with it. The IT industry is often a |
| released regularly. Due to the products' open | | | | "come today, gone tomorrow" so it's always |
| source nature it is easier and cheaper to | | | | difficult to choose which company to invest |
| develop plugins and compatible applications. | | | | in, especially as the current trend is "over |
| | | | priced " when those companies that have |
| On the operating system side, Microsoft has | | | | managed to stick around decide to float |
| competition from Linux. Linux is now becoming | | | | themselves on the stock market. I won't |
| more mature and is being adopted by | | | | advise you who to invest in, but I will say |
| governments and educational institutes alike. | | | | don't just look at the software/operating |
| Novell (NOVL) is investing a lot of money in | | | | system area, also look at hardware and |
| Linux, having bought German company SuSE | | | | consultancy companies too. Big Blue, |
| Linux GmbH in January 2004. | | | | International Business Machines Corp (IBM), |
| | | | has been around for a long time and there |
| One key area that they have invested a lot in | | | | will always be a demand for such companies. |
| over the past year is Xen, which is | | | | |