Patrick Thibodeau

There are a number of ways to get more data centre space. One is to be like Google Inc., which is building new data centres in Iowa and other states at a cost of US$600 million each. Another is to lease some space first and then buy it if you like it -- and that's what Microsoft Corp. appears to have done via a deal with Savvis Inc.

A lawsuit alleging that Microsoft Windows Vista Capable users were misled about the capabilities of the operating system will go to trial Oct. 28, 2008, a federal judge in Seattle decided last week. That starting date will be close to the two-year anniversary of the release of the Windows Vista operating system.

An overheated data centre can cook one's IT equipment - literally, and land an IT manager in a hot spot. To try to avoid unpleasant surprises, IT managers are increasingly investing in computer-aided studies that map the airflow in data centers.

At Gartner Inc.

At Gartner Inc.'s Outsourcing Summit in Dallas this week, the world looked flat. At least, that was the sense on the trade show floor, where representatives from countries such as China, South Africa, Brazil, the Czech Republic and -- of course -- India set up shop in booths limited to certain sizes and styles, resulting in a homogenous and oddly democratic display.

Gartner Inc. is recommending that businesses complete planning by the second quarter of this year for an influenza pandemic and in particular stock up on supplies that would be needed by data centre workers.

IT Managers will be eager to get their hands on version 3 of ITIL, which is due next month. This will be the first new release since 2000, and a lot of things in IT have changed since Version 2 became available.

Jamie Giovanetto has made layoffs -- preparing for and handling them -- an area of expertise.