Microsoft Makes a Comeback in Beijing

The Financial Times reports this morning that the Beijing city government has quietly made substantial purchases of software from Microsoft after it cancelled a controversial $3.5 million order for Microsoft Office and Windows late last year, according to municipal officials and industry executives. This is definitely a boost for Microsoft and is a very symbolic win in a part of the world where it has had to endure a great deal of criticism.

Carly Fiorina and HP

Now that the applause, the trauma, the tears and jeers have passed, what's ahead for HP and for Carly Fiorina?

I found an interesting post on Fiorina's situation that recalls the lyrics of the song ``Celluloid Heroes'' by Ray Davies and the Kinks:

Everybody's a dreamer, and everybody's a star

And everybody's in show biz, it doesn't matter who you are.

And those who are successful,

Be always on your guard,

Success walks hand in hand with failure

Along Hollywood Boulevard.

Google's New Toolbar Causes Concern

Google has released a trial tool which is concerning some Internet users because it directs people to pre-selected commercial websites. A fellow PR blogger, Micropersuasion's Steve Rubel got a nice quote on news.com and the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Let's face it, Google is to the Web what Microsoft is to PCs -- the operating system everyone uses to search. It has nearly the same lock on consumers' share of mind. ... And millions use the Google Toolbar. They shouldn't get away with what Microsoft was unable to."

Sun & Utility Computing

Utility computing is a term companies such as IBM, HP and Sun are overhyping right now and it is defined as the 'provision of IT-based functionality on demand'. In many of the articles written on the subject, users can't help but be confused as to the difference between utility computing and previous, failed attempts to reduce the cost and complexity of IT.

Sun’s President Jonathan Schwartz explains on his blog that “many suppliers in the technology industry have relied on mass inefficiencies to drive short-term profits—why bother delivering a computing service if you can custom-build a grid for each customer and sell 10X the infrastructure? To us, that sounds like betting against the network—a bad move for any market.” But, later explains to ZD Net’s Dan Farber that more than 99 percent of Sun’s business is exactly what he just condemned.

Sun belief is that there is a utility-like view of computing emerging that will drive a kind of generic use of computing capacity. Mr. Schwartz points to Google as a generic search utility, eBay as an auction utility.

Hybrid Cars...

The Wall Street Journal reports that Honda may offer a hybrid CR-V SUV. Toyota will soon be releasing a hybrid version of their Highlander SUV. Toyota has also announced plans to release in North America in 2006 a hybrid version of the Camry, now the best-selling passenger car in the US.

The major US automakers are developing their own hybrid models right now. Ford has recently released a hybrid version of its Escape SUV, which averages around 36 mpg. The Lexus 400h, a 270 hp luxury hybrid, averages 27.6 mpg (8.5l/100km). GM intends to put hybrids into its full-sized Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs in late 2007. Daimler Chrysler is planning a hybrid Dodge Durango with a 20% increase in gas mileage ( 22.3 mpg combined city/highway for the Durango HEV compared with 17.1 mpg for a comparable conventional V-8 Durango). GM and DaimlerChrysler will work on what they call "two-mode full hybrid" technology - an electrically variable transmission with two hybrid drive modes.