RUMORS, TRUTH AND INNUENDO
ShadowRAM
By ShadowRAM
CRN
- 3:10 PM EST Fri., Dec. 14, 2001
DELL EXECUTIVE GETS IN A FEW DIGS AT RIVAL COMPAQ
ORACLEWORLD ATTENDEES PONDER ELLISON'S SUCCESSOR
DECIPHERING COMPAQ'S SMB PARTER LISTING
Dell Computer can't resist getting in its digs at Compaq Computer's expense,even when its cross-Texas rival is down.
At the Raymond James/CRN IT Supply Chain Conference last week at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York, Dell CFO Jim Schneider made a point during his presentation to take another shot at Big Q. Schneider flipped to a slide that showed that Compaq's costs of doing business actually increase the more the company moves to a Dell-like direct sales model.
Hey, Jim? Duh. That's not exactly a news flash to folks who invest in the channel or to folks who have been following Compaq.
No matter what you think about CDW Computer Centers, you have to like the company's TV commercial blitz. You know, the one that features imbecilic corporate klutzes telling IT guys things like, "I downloaded that virus just like you told me not to" and "I'm off to crash the server now, wish me luck."
Apparently, the company, which is trying to build itself into a national brand, has had good enough results with the campaign that CEO John Edwardson, is seriously weighing buying pricey airtime for commercials during the upcoming Super Bowl XXXVI.
There's still a fair amount of buzz coming in the wake of Oracle OpenWorld, where quirky comedy became the rule. Oracle showed a hilarious video of Monty Python's Eric Idle reading fairy tales to the attendees. Fellow Brit and Oracle VP Jeremy Burton was supposed to meet with Idle beforehand to go over plans but was unable to fly to L.A. because of a meeting with his boss, Larry Ellison.
Our personal favorite, though, was a special guest appearance at the show by David St. Hubbins,that's "Dye-vid" to you,of the erstwhile rock group Spinal Tap, who air-guitared his way on stage to deafening accompaniment of "For Those About To Rock We Salute You." Nothing like making segues from heavy metal to Intel's Craig Barrett. We almost got the bends.
Ellison was asked about his "succession problem," which he feels to be no problem at all. In fact, he said he wishes departing sales exec Jay Nussbaum well. Nussbaum is taking the No. 2 slot at KPMG.
Ellison then took time to note the other former Oracle lieutenants who've gone on to head such companies as Siebel, PeopleSoft, i2 and Compaq. "I would compare us to GE . . . with great depth of management. If we lose people, we must have a lot of good people . . . [because] we have a stronger management team now than ever."
He continued: "I'm taking the Jack Welch approach. I'll tell you [who the successor is] right before I leave. The idea of a strong No. 2 is one I tried a few times, and it didn't work out for me. No. 2s can become blinded by the limelight . . . and become less effective. It's very heady . . . and not healthy for Oracle.
When asked if he thought Ray Lane had been blinded by the limelight, Ellison countered: "Am I saying Ray Lane couldn't handle the limelight? I don't know. Write what you want."
In last week's column, we wrote that on Compaq's new SMB Partner Web site seven direct marketers, with CDW topping the list, are referenced before Ingram Micro VentureTech and Tech Data TechSelect members. A Compaq spokeswoman has a simple explanation: The SMB partners are listed in alphabetical order. |
