Microsoft Briefs On SQL Server R2 – Confusion, Questions Result

April 18, 2010 by 3 Comments

SQL Server 2008 R2 is near release. Briefings for analysts are underway, and right now the picture is a mess. Although seemingly relegated to an adjunct position compared to Office in Microsoft’s thinking, R2 adds a great deal (source:softwarekeep.ca):

  • CEP, although tools and integration are unclear;
  • Master Data Management (MDM), although apparently Microsoft believes end users will do it;
  • the long-awaited Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) – but not yet (release date TBD.)

Many other features are in there too – but the briefing I attended last week didn’t discuss them much. Read more of this post

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IBM’s “Smarter Planet” Will Capitalize on HW, Analytics

December 15, 2009 by Leave a comment

Rod Adkins, the SVP and Group Executive of IBM’s Systems and Technology Group (STG) took the time to engage the influencer community quite early in his tenure for a well-run event at the Watson Research Lab in Yorktown Heights. “I’ve been in this position for 38 days,” he  reminded us, as STG’s AR team widened the usually hardware-focused invited audience to include generalists and more software-focused folk like me.  IBM execs from IBM’s Software Group, its Research organization and corporate, joined us  for a look at the science behind the systems, a compelling addition to the agenda. And another pitch for IBM’s analytics thrust was a scene-stealer. Read more of this post

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SAP Promises Acceleration on a “Clear Path” – Will it Be Enough?

December 10, 2009 by 7 Comments

The economic slowdown was not kind to SAP in 2009, and as it launched the annual Influencer Summit on December 8th, change was in the air. Messages were shifting. “Sustainability” got a big push, and there was a ringing commitment to substantial, dramatic product change to be delivered in 2010. Different faces were on display: there was no Leo Apotheker or Bill McDermott on the stage, although Board members Jim Hagemann Snabe and John Schwarz held down the fort with new Marketing EVP Jonathan Becher and CTO Vishal Sikka in key speaking slots. Like the dances I went to in high school, the event was mostly date-free, but direct questions elicited some specific, though uncommitted, statements about deliveries in 2010, especially from Marge Breya. Read more of this post

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