Pender's Blog by Lee Pender, RCPU Editor

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HP and Microsoft Unveil Appliances

OK, so we were expecting some blenders, maybe a washer or a food processor, but the appliances HP and Microsoft trotted out yesterday are more about cloud computing than what used to be called "home economics."

There are five appliances in total, one of which is intended to help companies build a private cloud "in a box." That leads us to wonder -- when is the cloud not the cloud? If it's installed and administered on-premises, is it still the cloud? And can the cloud be put in a box?

We're probably over-thinking this, or not thinking enough. Anyway, the other appliances include an Exchange-based messaging appliance and an appliance for building data warehouses that costs $2 million. That last one, called SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Warehouse edition, was code-named Project Madison during its development. Madison...hmm, why does Madison stick in the mind?

Oh, yeah. Madison, as in Wisconsin. Wisconsin, as in the Rose Bowl. Now we remember why Madison rings a bell. Yup, your editor is still giddy. And with that, we wish you a great weekend.

Posted by Lee Pender on January 20, 2011


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