Lots of survey data points to lots of aspirations and disappointments when it comes to enterprise computing, while all things virtualization continues to dominate the news of the day

CIOs Want Better Business Processes and More Productivity from Emerging Technology
A survey of almost 300 senior IT executives conducted by CIO Insight finds that helping grow the business is still the number one driver behind emerging technologies but at least half of them now say reducing costs is becoming a much bigger factor. Applications based on service oriented architectures and rich Internet clients top the list of technologies with the most revenue potential for businesses and, somewhat surprisingly, the appetite for emerging technologies in the mid-market is getting stronger. Meanwhile, a separate eWeek survey finds that corporate IT executives are embracing Web 2.0 applications primarily for use within the enterprise. With all that said, however, here are some tips on how to avoid project failures because a separate study find that finance executives are not too excited these days about the return on their technology investments.

Demand for VMware Skills Jumps 40 Percent
As virtualization goes main stream the demand for IT workers with skills in this area is up sharply. The next big push, thanks in part to the latest efforts of companies such as VMware, appears to be aimed at the client, which in turn creates opportunities for IT services companies. But while enthusiasm is running high there are still a number of virtualization performance and management issues that remain unresolved. Nevertheless, both Red Hat and Novell are pushing forward on virtualization integration at the operating system level.

Citrix Outlines Plan to Integrate Virtualization with Terminal Services
The integration of XenSource Presentation Server with virtualization on the client opens up the number of applications that can be deployed using the popular server hosted model popularized by Citrix, Meanwhile, both Wyse and Hewlett-Packard think this approach may drive more interest in thin client computing.

Blended Computing Model Continues to Advance
Despite all the hype from vendors over competing computing models it looks like smaller application vendors are leading the way to the next generation of enterprise computing. In fact, some folks are suggesting that instead of worrying about virtual hardware the time has come to focus on virtual services at the application level. Of course, the average user doesn't seem to care how software gets delivered to them so long as the disappointing experiences they currently deal somehow get better. In the meantime, Microsoft is trying to get more people to support the concept of subscription software services while Workday rolled out ERP as a service.

Microsoft Reaches Out for Yahoo Again
This time Microsoft is proposing to only buy Yahoo's search business as a way of disturbing the growing alliance between Yahoo and Google. Most folks don't seem to think this proposal will fly but Carl Icahn still shouting about shareholder value you never know what might happen next. Elsewhere, Facebook seems concerned enough about all this intrigue to feel the need to reiterate its independence.

Fundamentals of IT Outsourcing Contracts Continue to Change
As Hewlett-Packard continues to look for support for its bid for EDS a new study suggests that size outsourcing contracts are getting a lot smaller as customers look to spread their IT risks around. In the meantime, here are some analysts thoughts on what HP CEO Mark Hurd might be thinking in regards to EDS.

Google Shows Off Latest Batch of Applications for Android
Even thought Nokia has now joined Verizon in showing a preference for Linux, Google is out drumming up developer support for its new mobile phone platform. Speaking of developers, Sybase expects to a have its mobile database offering for the iPhone ready shortly, which is good because AT&T says it is finally almost ready to deploy a 3G network.

Baseline List Best Add-ons for Firefox Users
One of the nicer things about the Firefox browser is all the cool widgets that people build for it that you can run for free.