Rumors, Truth & Innuendo -- ShadowRam
May. 07, 1999 (Computer Reseller News - CMP via COMTEX) -- Some folks are sentimental for the old days
of autonomy and brand recognition. Not Wang Global chairman and CEO Joseph Tucci, who is ironing out
details of Wang's planned $2 billion acquisition by Dutch IT integrator Getronics NV.
The Wang moniker, established in 1951 by Chinese immigrant An Wang, most likely will be replaced when
the deal wraps. "You can't help but have a little sorrow in the pit of your stomach," said Tucci. "But hey, life
goes on."
One company that does not have to sweat branding is Sun. Chairman Scott McNealy made his usual splash
at the new facility in not-so-sunny Burlington, Mass. Surveying the driving rain, he noted New England is
nice with the exception of its "Microsoft weather."
Sitting amongst be-suited local and state officials, McNealy, in an open-collared shirt, requested that this
become at least an "optionally tie-free zone."
McNealy also noted that he, unlike a certain unnamed software billionaire, at least can say he graduated
from a Massachusetts college. The Sun chairman also noted that it's fine by him for folks to develop with
Linux and deploy on Solaris. That's far better than paying Microsoft's "usury and monopolistic fees" and
using "CaptiveX" to do so, McNealy said.
Some reports said a bomb threat cleared the courtroom at the recent Microsoft/Sun deposition in San
Francisco. That wasn't quite the case. Rather, it was vacated at Sun's request because the judge would
hear "sensitive" material-the threat was incidental.
Speaking of security, one of Compaq's first cost-cutting measures in the wake of Herr Pfeiffer's abrupt
departure was elimination of the security guards that defended the former boss's office.
And, word around Redwood Shores is that Oracle chief Ray Lane is dead serious about the top Compaq job.
Lane may follow former Informix leader Bob Finocchio right out of the database biz, but Finocchio traded it
all in for Mt. Kilimanjaro rather than Houston.
Some thought that Bill Gates was dissing AT&T chief Mike Armstrong with his no-show on the call detailing
the blockbuster $5 billion AT&T-Microsoft deal. Or maybe he simply kept a low profile in hopes that
government regulators won't interfere.
It's getting so you can't tell whose back office is whose. First we hear Ingram Micro might buy up Corporate
Software & Technology's back-office expertise. Now Tech Data may take over backroom ops for GE Capital
ITS. With Compaq reducing its direct distributor relationships from 39 to four, this could be the start of many
such deals between corporate resellers and disties.
Speaking of deals, this looks like the week CompuCom will finally pull the trigger on a deal with Entex in
which CompuCom will take over all or part of Entex's product business.
Don't hold out on me, gimme the dirt. Call me at (800) 521-DIME; fax (781) 487-7588; or send me E-mail at
shadow-ram@cmp.com.
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