Free Newsletters :
Columns Index
7 Cloud Computing Acquisition Targets
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published June 30, 2009
Today’s savvy new cloud companies will likely get gobbled up by the giants that will rule cloud computing in the years ahead.
Can Dell's Web Gadget Beat the iPhone?
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published July 2, 2009
Dell has a serious chance, but given the history of failed attempts on Apple’s crown, the odds favor Apple.
Surviving the Self Service Internet
By David Strom | Columns Article Published July 1, 2009
The Internet has replaced legions of service people we use to rely on. Which means quality customer care matters more than ever.
Too Old To Write Software? Or Just the 'Wrong Era'?
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published June 29, 2009
Rightly or wrongly, age is considered when hiring developers, yet a more important indicator is what micro-era in software history a programmer belongs to.
The Good and Evil of Proxy Servers
By David Strom | Columns Article Published June 18, 2009
This Web technology plays a role in everything from Iran's recent election to a Microsoft lawsuit against alleged purveyors of advertising click fraud.
Four Useful Tools for Social Networkers
By David Strom | Columns Article Published June 25, 2009
Busy Web users can use these free services to communicate more efficiently.
IBM's Revenge on Sun and Microsoft's Brush with Reality
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published June 18, 2009
Could IBM be the biggest beneficiary of Oracle’s acquisition of Sun? Plus: a poor review for Microsoft’s Web-based reality TV show.
IT Salaries: Security Staff
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published June 17, 2009
The need for IT security staff never seems to lessen, creating healthy salary levels for these sought after professionals.
Six Perfect Tech Products Everyone Should Use
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published June 25, 2009
So good they can actually enhance your career and your relationships -- and your life.
Why Apple Should Dump AT&T
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published June 17, 2009
Thanks to AT&T's slow execution on support for new iPhone features, its horrible customer service, and its high and confusing prices, yet another iPhone launch has been compromised.
Can Apple Survive its Move Toward Mass Market?
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published June 17, 2009
With the iPhone available for $99 and the Snow Leopard upgrade selling for a mere $29, Apple is on a slippery slope toward commodity status.
Is a College Degree Needed to be a Great Software Developer?
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published June 15, 2009
The question is complicated by today's tough job market, in which non-degreed applicants don't even land an interview.
Help! My Macs are Cranky
By Don Reisinger | Columns Article Published June 13, 2009
He's fond of Apple but this Mac user apparently bought two problem machines. Is it time to go back to Windows?
Who Killed Twitter?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published June 11, 2009
Statistics about Twitter usage show a far different picture than the media hype suggests. Why did Twitter jump the shark?
How SaaS Changes the Vendor-Customer Relationship
By Jeffrey Kaplan | Columns Article Published June 10, 2009
Software-as-a-Service shifts the responsibility of successfully deploying and maintaining software applications from the customer to the vendor.
Google Wave: Faster Response Times
By David Strom | Columns Article Published June 11, 2009
Google Wave represents a new way of thinking about how to work together.
Does the Mac-Windows-Linux Race Ever Change?
By Emery Fletcher | Columns Article Published June 10, 2009
Looking back at a 1999 essay by sci-fi author Neal Stephenson suggests that humans change far slower than technology.
Stop the Drivel: The 'Really Perfect' Tech Exec
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published June 8, 2009
Forget the fawning coverage, the truly perfect IT exec masters office politics better than tech.
Tech Follies: Laptop Batteries, Netbooks, and Investor Funny Money
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published June 4, 2009
A veteran industry analyst points out some of the follies in today's tech world.
Macs are Better Looking than Windows PCs (Not)
By Don Reisinger | Columns Article Published June 11, 2009
After a period of catch-up, Windows PC's have all the aesthetic charm of an Apple machine.
Developer Salary Levels, 2004-2009
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published May 19, 2009
For developer salaries, the last five years have brought good news and not so good news.
Microsoft vs. the EU: When Antitrust is Anti-Competitive
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published June 4, 2009
Microsoft is being unfairly harassed by European Union regulators, argues a tech industry observer.
Windows 7 Review: Why I Like Windows 7
By Andy Rathbone | Columns Article Published May 18, 2009
The pros and cons of Windows 7, from the author of the popular Windows for Dummies guidebooks.
The Trouble with Real-Time Search
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 21, 2009
You can expect Google to embrace real-time search. But don't expect that search to be anywhere near as useful as good old-fashioned regular Google searches.
Facebook and Twitter: When to Friend and Defriend
By David Strom | Columns Article Published May 21, 2009
The emphasis needs to be on quality, not quantity.
EMC, Google, and the Enterprise Market
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published May 21, 2009
In the view of one industry analyst, EMC has a clear advantage over Google in the enterprise market.
Being an IT Manager: Joys and Headaches
By Scott Alan Miller | Columns Article Published May 18, 2009
The IT field rewards those who keep pace with change but punishes those who fall behind. Still, being in IT has its pleasures.
iPhone App Developers Talk about Success Strategies
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published May 13, 2009
The London-based developers of iSteam talk about trends in the iPhone app market.
Does Google's 'Recent Results' Feature Beat Twitter?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 13, 2009
Twitter Search offers more timely results while Google’s “Recent results” are better filtered. The best option is to combine them. C’mon, Google: Acquire Twitter already!
IT Salary Levels, 2004-2009
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published May 6, 2009
IT salary levels have fluctuated considerably in the last five years, yet the industry remains lucrative for qualified professionals.
Where IT is Going (Thin is In)
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published May 4, 2009
We’ll move into the cloud, reorganize ourselves, and finally use thin clients. It’s time to stop talking.
Does Apple Have PC Envy? (or Netbook Envy?)
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published May 5, 2009
Apple's excess focus on Microsoft is causing the company to lose ground even as Google is ramping up to undermine Apple on the way to its ultimate goal of displacing Microsoft.
How Oracle-Sun Could Use Google to Become New IBM
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published April 27, 2009
Google would own the user, Oracle would own IT, and both would embrace a heavily subsidized hardware model that would be nearly impossible for Microsoft to counter.
Steve Jobs Gets Pwned
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 7, 2009
Apple fumbled hugely by allowing the Kindle to dominate the rapidly growing eBook device market.
Is Windows 7 Really Mojave? (Part II)
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 29, 2009
Is Windows 7 really "Mojave" — Vista warmed over and sold with a shiny new package? The answer is: sort of.
Geek Secrets for Cheap Tech Gear
By Kenneth Hess | Columns Article Published April 22, 2009
Geeks always have the coolest gear -- but they don't have the deepest pockets. Learn how they buy tech toys cheaply.
Buying a Cheap PC With 8 GB RAM: Shopping Tips
By David Strom | Columns Article Published April 22, 2009
Buying a PC with 8 GB of RAM doesn't mean you have to part with the family fortune.
Is Microsoft Better Without Bill Gates?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 22, 2009
Since the late 1990s it seemed that Microsoft consistently failed to capitalize on the biggest opportunities. Since Gates left last summer, the company seems to be doing everything right.
Do We Need an FDA to Protect Our Data?
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published April 20, 2009
It’s time we take data protection out of the realm of futility and treat our vital data like a food or a drug that needs serious oversight and safeguards.
Where's Your Coding Happy Place?
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published April 20, 2009
Developing software code is an activity best done in an optimal environment. Then again, is it more a question of external location, or internal mood?
Studying for Tech Certifications on a Budget
By Eric Geier | Columns Article Published April 14, 2009
IT certifications can boost your career, yet preparing for them can be costly. Here are resources to help you get ready without spending a fortune.
Keeping Your Network Secure in Insecure Times
By David Strom | Columns Article Published April 3, 2009
An overview of tangible steps a network admin can use to protect data security.
You Know You're an Apple Fan Boy When…
By Ryan Faas | Columns Article Published April 13, 2009
Tips to help you determine if you’re merely a fan or if you’ve gone over the deep end.
Inside Google's 'Facebook Killer'
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 15, 2009
The Facebook user interface is cumbersome and counter-intuitive. Google (with possible help from Twitter) has a solution.
Stop Dishonest Tech Lingo! (that means you, Apple and Microsoft)
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 9, 2009
Tech sites and tech vendors are famous for inventing wacky lingo that stretches the truth. Isn’t it time we stopped the madness?
Cloudera CEO: Hadoop, Open Source and the Cloud
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published April 2, 2009
An interview with the CEO of Cloudera, a tech start-up that hopes to bring the popular data processing engine to a larger audience.
Inside Intel's Top Secret Lab
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published April 8, 2009
Three Intel initiatives, Confrontational Computing, Energy Aware Network Proxy, and CloneCloud, could significantly change the tech landscape.
Pirates Plunder the iPhone App Store
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published April 9, 2009
The extent of illegal, free distribution of iPhone apps may be surprisingly large. Developers need to take steps to protect themselves.
When Developers Drink On The Job
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published April 7, 2009
When a developer drinks or does drugs on the job, there’s a right way and a wrong way to deal with it.
Operational and Strategic Tech: "I Want a Divorce"
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published April 1, 2009
Operational and strategic technologists are about as different as Obama is from Bush. I cannot for the life of me understand why they didn’t divorce ten years ago.
Why Netbooks Will Run Cell Phone Software
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 1, 2009
The next big thing in tiny laptops will be cell phone operating systems, cell phone applications and cell phone data plans. Like all big shifts in the netbook market, this one will surprise the experts, but thrill buyers.
Why IT Managers Are Devouring Spiceworks
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published March 24, 2009
IT managers at small and medium-sized firms are enthused about this free network monitoring application.
The Apple Rip-Off
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published March 25, 2009
Who else but Apple would make headphones proprietary? And what about the RAM upgrade for $6,100? Is there no limit to the Apple dollar-grabbing madness?
Jobs, Wozniak, and Obama: Saints and Dreamers
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published March 25, 2009
A reflection on how various public figures are dealing with the current economic downturn.
Get Ready for Microsoft's Big Comeback
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 25, 2009
Surprise! The combined effect of Windows 7, an improving reputation and $20 billion in cash will bring Microsoft out of its doldrums and into a position of industry leadership once again.
Five Social Networking Apps Worth Using
By David Strom | Columns Article Published March 25, 2009
Free software tools to help you use the likes of Facebook, Plaxo, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, and Wordpress.
Does Robert Scoble Have a Twitter Problem?
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published March 17, 2009
Is it normal that a single human being has posted more than 19,000 Twitter updates?
Four Alternatives to Google Docs
By David Strom | Columns Article Published March 12, 2009
Free options for document management and work collaboration, among other business uses.
Are Quirky Developers Brilliant or Dangerous?
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published March 16, 2009
A story of a highly talented but egocentric developer, the type we all know and dislike. Can we stop enabling these people?
Cloud Computing: Beyond Buy vs. Lease
By Jeffrey Kaplan | Columns Article Published March 12, 2009
Many IT decision makers continue to see the "buy or lease an auto" analogy when considering cloud computing.
Cloud Computing in the Recession
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published March 11, 2009
True or false: in an era of belt-tightening, businesses are growing leery of experimenting with the new technology of cloud computing.
The Apple/Google Netbook and the Next Big Thing
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published March 11, 2009
Google and Apple are rumored to be developing, along with ARM, the next class of Netbook computers. Say good-bye to the non-connected life.
Nick Carr Talks Cloud Computing
By Andy Patrizio | Columns Article Published March 6, 2009
The omnipresent tech pundit holds forth on the virtues of cloud computing at a big industry confab.
Why We Need More H-1B Workers
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 11, 2009
Instead of harming American competitiveness by blocking companies from hiring the world's most skilled workers, let's instead open the floodgates and let American companies hire whomever they please -- and issue the visas that will make that possible.
Top 3 Threats to Microsoft: Apple, Linux, Pirating
By Paul Rubens | Columns Article Published March 10, 2009
Software pirates, Linux and Apple each offer challenges, yet Microsoft is ready to compete.
IT Housecleaning: A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published March 3, 2009
Now’s your chance to fix some things you’ve been thinking about for years. Get to it before they put out the fire.
Apple's Epic E-Book Fail
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 4, 2009
Amazon's new Kindle for iPhone represents a massive exploitation of the short-sightedness of Apple. Apple should have read this market better.
In Your Face: Recession and The Rise of the Anti-Social Web
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published March 5, 2009
Welcome to the Anti-social Web, with the Facebooks, LinkIns and Twitters of the world churning your personal data into corporate profits – privacy and propriety be damned.
Web Traffic Building: the Tortoise Wins
By David Strom | Columns Article Published March 5, 2009
While it's true that certain viral videos and other one-hit wonders boost online traffic, slow and steady tends to be a better method.
Why Apple Can't Afford to Lose the Mac Clone War
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published February 25, 2009
In its battle with small-time PC maker Psystar, Apple's entire business model is at stake.
Skype Video Calling: Free and Easy
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published March 4, 2009
A guide to free Skype video calling, which is very easy to set up and use.
Datamation Announces 2009 Product of the Year Winners
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published February 25, 2009
Tech professionals vote for their favorites in a broad array of categories, from Business Laptop to PC Security, Enterprise Linux to Office Productivity software.
In Hard Times, Developers Need to Give Back
By Sara Chipps | Columns Article Published March 2, 2009
Given that it’s the work of software developers that has helped create joblessness, it’s only right that developers now help those in need.
Davos Retrospective: Still a Good Time to Be Alive
By Richard Muirhead | Columns Article Published February 27, 2009
A Davos attendee, having had time to reflect on hobnobbing with world leaders, concludes that the world is not about to end.
Why the Twitter Haters Are Wrong
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published February 25, 2009
Twitter itself is merely a medium, and one that is different and awesome precisely because every user can control exactly who to follow and what to post.
Inside the "IT Salaries are Rising" Report
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published February 17, 2009
It’s hard to believe reports that 2009 IT salaries are rising, until you look at factors that are keeping tech salaries stable (so far).
Geek Hero Comic: "Agile Development Explained"
By Salvatore Iovene | Columns Article Published February 24, 2009
The term 'agile development' has a number of meanings, depending on who's defining it.
HP vs. IBM: Competitors or Allies?
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published February 24, 2009
The two tech giants maintain a competitive stance toward one another, yet long term it appears an alliance makes more sense.
Silicon Valley Faces Dire Times
By David Needle | Columns Article Published February 20, 2009
And no, green tech won't lead a turnaround, observers predict. Perhaps the only hope: "creative destruction."
Facebook Thinks You're Stupid
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published February 18, 2009
Basing your communication with users on the idea that you're smart and your customers are dumb will lead to failure every time.
15 Minutes of Fame: Enterprise Software and The Casual User Revolution
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published February 9, 2009
In the future most IT staffers will no longer associate a vendor’s name with the software they use, upsetting a long held status quo.
Is Calling a Software Engineer a 'Programmer' an Insult?
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published February 17, 2009
Software programmers – whoops, we mean ‘developers’ – have a very definite sense of how they should be referred to. The hierarchy of job titles is clear.

IT Offers