IBM announces what it calls "expert integrated systems" with PureSystems-- a converged infrastructure architecture combining IBM's server, storage, networking and management technologies into a single integrated platform. 

With its PureSystems, IBM will offer clients an alternative to the current enterprise models of "multiple and disparate systems."

The result of 4 years and $2 billion of development and acquisitions, PureSystems represents IBM's hopes of changing IT-- the same way mobile phones changed communications, IBM VP of ISVs, developers, Read more...

Intel reports fairly solid results for Q1 2012, with earnings reaching $2.7 billion-- down from $3.9bn in Q4 2011 due to disruptions from HDD shortages and the resulting inventory reductions across the supply chain.

Q1 2012 revenues reach a total of $12.9bn, with all Intel groups (including PC client and data centre groups) seeing Y-o-Y losses.

However Intel is optimistic for H2 2012-- and not only because HDD shortages are improving. The company hopes the Ivy Bridge launch will fuel sales further, especially in combination with the Windows 8 launch.

The company also remains hopeful Ultrabook demand will be on the up.

Reuters reports Microsoft is pulling its European software distribution operations from Germany to the Netherlands due to the web of patent disputes it is going through with Motorola Mobility.

Motorola is suing Microsoft over use of the H.264 video codec standard-- and the decision the Mannheim Regional Court does on April 17 has the power to ban Windows 7 (and related technologies such as Media Player) and Xbox sales in the biggest European economy, as well as other countries the German centre supplies.

"We would have preferred to keep our European distribution center in Germany, where it has been for many years. But unfortunately the risk from disruptions from Motorola's patent litigation is simply too high," Microsoft says.

AMD launches low-cost server chip competition to Intel with the Opteron 3200 series-- 3 chips the company says are ideal for web hosting and cloud applications in single socket servers.

Based on Bulldozer architecture (as in Opteron 6200 16-core processors), Opteron 3200 chips carry 4 or 8 cores. Speeds are up to 3GHz and power use ranges at 45-65W. 

The new series will also surely go in products from recent AMD purchase SeaMicro-- the SM10000-XE server currently carries Intel Xeon E3 series chips. 

Go AMD Opteron 3200 Series Processors