AMD is preparing for another battle royale with Intel, and the world learns more and more about the cyber-gangs that are terrorizing the Internet.

AMD Readies Fiorano Server Platform for 2009
In advance of a major showdown with Intel over the next generation of computing that will pit AMD's Shanghai processors architecture against a rival Nehalem offering that Intel has begun touting this week in earnest, AMD is letting it be know that that company plans to create its first server platform, codenamed Fiorano, for its processors in 2009. Obviously, Intel currently holds the upper hand but as the noise level around Shanghai continues to build, it's clear that AMD is not ready to roll over and play dead just yet, especially when you consider the fact that AMD is now partnering with IBM to build 22-nanometer technologies.

The Top Ten Most Notorious Cyber Gangs
As corporations every where increasingly find themselves held hostage by cyber thugs, at least we're starting to do a better job of identifying the source of the threat. Of course, this may just all add up to an argument for adopting data encryption every where.

Microsoft Clarifies Licensing Policies Surrounding Virtualization
Given that there is still a fair amount of confusion concerning software licensing as it applies to environments running virtual servers, it is high time Microsoft and other software vendors moved to clarify how much it will cost to run what where and when. Of course, the whole virtualization equation represents a major challenge to the way we need manage IT going forward, especially when it comes to managing data as we increasingly turn to storage virtualization.

Vista Acceptance in the Enterprise Still Stuck in Neutral
New research suggests that Microsoft still isn't finding many takers for Vista in the enterprise. In fact, if anything interest in Windows 7 is on the rise. But if you're seriously thinking about alternatives to Windows, you might want to check out this slide show that highlights seven viable options.

Federal Government Looks to Save Billions on Powering PCs
The General Services Administration has fast tracked a new managed service that makes it easier to monitor and adjust the amount of power that PCs consume on a daily basis. Of course, this may just wind up convincing people that they need to upgrade their PCs to a new generation of more environmentally friendly models. But at least folks across the world appear be getting more serious about green computing initiatives every day.

Social Networks Now Mean Business
Companies such as Del Monte are now making broader use of social networks, especially when you consider how relatively simple it is to set up collaboration applications compared with on premise installations of Lotus Notes or Microsoft SharePoint.

Hewlett-Packard Goes on the Offensive
HP is pulling out all the stops in terms of motivating its partners to help the company gain market share in the enterprise. Of course, this may also signal some fundamental changes in attitude about the channel across the board as IBM promises to commit to selling primarily through the channel as well.

eWeek Identifies Ten Most Innovative Search Engines
With diversity becoming the order for the day in the world of search, we thought we'd identify some of the folks that leading the charge when it comes to the next generation of search. In the meantime, the folks at Cuil are making progress on fixing some of the early problems they've encountered with their new search platform. By the way, the word Cuil itself is derivative of Gaelic terms loosely associated with the word knowledge depending, as with most things Irish, on who and what you may want to exactly believe.