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The article presents nine ideas to help information technology (IT) managers negotiate with software vendors in the U.S. IT managers need to know their existing contracts, give back shelfware and understand the terms of pricing before signing a contract. They must ask vendors for concessions, determine the software contracts in place and how efficiently software was being used and ensure software maintenance. IT managers must negotiate a software deal toward the end of a vendor's financial quarter. INSET: DRIVE AHARD BARGAIN.

The article reports on the move of International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) to reduce the size and cost of some of their System z systems in the U.S. The company introduced System z10 Business Class mainframe, a lower-cost and smaller version of the full-size. It is the second attempt of the company to offer a lower-cost mainframe to attract customers to Big Blue's signature computer system. The mainframe system is claimed to be an attractive offer for those smaller enterprises and midmarket companies seeking to integrate Linux workloads running on multiple x86 systems.

Presents several letters to the editor related to the computer industry. Information on reports released by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, on the agency's inability to audit its information technology activity logs to detect unauthorized use or potential security threats; Advantages of combining software for Adobe Acrobat Reader and a Flash player; Significance of 64-bit computer systems.

The article reports on issues related to the move of companies to migrate business applications to Linux platforms in the U.S. It tackles the opposition of some companies which concluded that changing their operating system to Linux was a dubious business proposition. It cites the issue that some businesses are not satisfied with the quality of the administrative tools available for the Linux environment and that the system does not work for every application. The perspectives of executives related to the issue are presented.

This article examines the factors that caused problems in large-scale software installations in the public sector in the U.S. When it comes to troubled information technology projects, it seems that the public sector is over-represented. But some observers say that it is just that users have a more public forum in which to air their dissatisfaction than users in the private sector. In addition, governments are subject to transparency laws that affect corporations only when chief executive officers deliver quarterly earnings reports. INSET: Cheer Up.

The article presents the views of the author on how information technology (IT) departments should respond to the threat concerning the early switch of daylight-saving time (DST) in the U.S. He stresses that the application of Network Time Protocol (NTP) by system administrators can help address the synchronization of clocks in computer systems over data networks. It was inferred that compliance of computer programs to time zones and DST rules is significant to prevent failures in applications and systems. The author argues that it conducted an evaluation on all IT servers to ensure that every server was DST compliant. He asserts that the evaluation enables them to install programs that address the security of operating systems.

The article reports several developments in the computer industry in the U.S. Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs criticizes on Microsoft Corp.'s effort to finish development of Windows Vista computer software. On the other hand, PGP Corp. plans to ship its PGP Desktop 9.5 software for computer systems. In another news, two Silicon Valley vendors are readying security appliances designed to protect data and computer systems. Moreover, Reconnex Corp. plans to ship Version 5.0 of iGuard's embedded software, which allows multiple appliances centrally manage a single console.

This article focuses on the move of some information technology shops to build their own software offshore in order to eliminate software licensing problems in the U.S. Low-cost offshore development may encourage the build option, particularly if chief information officers need to customize a packaged product. It may be less expensive to build an application and pay maintenance fees to an offshore developer than it is to buy a license as well as service and support. And the build argument is becoming more viable because people are feeling very comfortable with the maturity of offshore operations. INSET: A Third Way.

This article reports that the U.S. Air Force announced an enterprisewide software licensing agreement with Microsoft Corp. (MC) that is expected to save it more than 100 million dollars for a six-year period and help secure its personal computers and Windows-based servers. In an advance statement, the Air Force said that the deal with MC will consolidate 38 software purchasing contracts and nine support pacts into two contracts that all of its operations will be required to adopt.