Back in May, Michael appeared on the cover of CRN and announced that Dell is expanding its channel strategy and will launch an “authorized partner” program and deal registration by the end of this year. Since then, we’ve been having lots of conversations with our current channel partners like Eze Castle Integration. Some customers have questioned our efforts, but I assure you Dell’s commitment to solution providers is real. Moving forward, I and others will blog about developments in our strategy to make the long-term vision more clear.

Yesterday, members of our Solution Provider Direct team updated hundreds of channel executives and media at the annual CMP XChange event in Orlando on progress Dell is making with our channel initiatives. 

 At XChange, we also circulated a survey to get feedback on authorized partner program elements that will most influence solution providers to do business with Dell. We’d love your feedback, too. Later this week, we’ll add a link to the survey when we get it set up.

We still have a ways to go and won’t be ready to announce the details of authorized partner until later this year, but here are some points I made during the XChange conference:

• We have new VPs in Europe and the Americas (which encompasses the United States, Canada and Latin America). Josh Claman is the VP of channels for EMEA, and Greg Davis now serves as VP for our channel business in the Americas.


• We’ve recently hired IPED-a member of the CMP family-to help us flesh out details of our initiatives. Their channel expertise and credibility is extremely valuable to us, and we are excited about the partnership.


• We acquired SilverBack Technologies. Dan Phillips, SilverBack CEO and now a Dell director, and his team will be instrumental in helping us build a partner network and program we think will be very compelling.


• One significant component of authorized partner that is fairly far along in its development is Deal Registration. According to a Bain survey recently commissioned by Dell, it’s not surprising that about 60% of solution providers surveyed have concerns about Dell’s direct hardware business competing with their sale or resale of hardware to customers. Deal Registration will reduce this conflict and hopefully increase solution providers’ trust in Dell.


• You will see a tiered program from us. Dell is a performance-based culture, and we want to set up our partner program in much the same way.


• Finally, we are upping our marketing efforts to the channel with regional Solution Provider Direct customer briefings, investments in events like XChange, and a dedicated marketing team.

I’ll add the link to the survey to this post when it’s live. Appreciate your feedback.

Originally posted 2007-08-22 18:52:18.

Secrets of the Phantom Caverns also know as What Waits Below was directed by Don Sharp and released 21 November 1985. This was one of Don Sharp latest movies and it goes under the Action/Horror genre. The cast are rather unknown except for Timothy Bottoms which played the role of Maj. Elbert Stevens. The movie was filmed on two different places first in McMinnville, Tennessee, USA. When they were done shooting here they changed location to Woodville, Alabama, USA in the Lemurian Caves.

The plot works great for a horror movie and basically the film is about The US government used deep caves as bases for special radio transmissions. One day the signal from the transmitters in the cave stop and a group of soldiers get sent to the cave to check it out. After some exploring in the cave they find a hidden tribe with people or cavemen. These men has been isolated from the rest of the world for thousand of years, and they are not to happy with the soldiers entering their cave.
This film strong side is the story as described here and not the acting for that sake. The movie offers some scary scenes and keeps you very focused about what will happen next.

Originally posted 2008-02-16 08:32:29.

Originally posted 2007-11-24 18:29:53.

Back in February we mentioned that Macworld Expo was coming to Switzerland. Unfortunately, German language Mac site macprime is reporting (German) that the show has been cancelled. It seems that not enough exhibitors were interested. Sorry, Swiss Mac-lovers, you’re always welcome at WWDC or MWSF; according to Google Maps, you just have to “swim across the Atlantic Ocean.”

Thanks, Steve!

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Originally posted 2007-08-16 02:17:49.

According to Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba, about the same time as he sat down with our very own David Chartier for TUAW Podcast #18, he also gave an interesting interview to the good folks over at Ars Tehnica’s Infinite Loop. They talk about Rogue Amoeba’s focus on audio, the controversy our own Laurie Duncan helped to start over what Paul dubbed The Delicious Generation, and more. So if you haven’t already, first go listen to the podcast then check out the interview and you’ll have more than met your recommended daily allowance of cool Mac audio developer news.

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Originally posted 2007-08-16 02:17:49.

The actors in the movie are mostly amateurs from Alabama something which is actually cool since the movie is filmed only on Alabama’s earth. The story is about a lonely girl which hires a firecracker salesman on her great-grandfather’s 100th birthday. Romance starts to grow between the young girl and the salesman. Her great grand dad is getting older and she start to realize that he will die very soon. The movie is funny, sad and dramatic in the same time and should be worth 60 minutes of your time, especially if you come from Alabama.

Originally posted 2008-03-29 12:51:40.

My mother ground very well trimmed meat (ab. 300-400 g) in a hand turned meat grinder. She even used to make her own breadcrumbs. She took 4 crisprolls and crushed them with a bottle between two layers of paper. Then the crumbs were soaked in 1 coffeecup of milk for a while to make a crumb paste. Salt, pepper, grated onion and 1 egg yolk were the other ingredients.

My meatballs are a lot easier to make. [The recipe can also be used for patties]. Cook and taste one meatball before you bother forming the rest.

INGREDIENTS:
* 400 g ground meat (ab. 90 % beef + 10% pork)
* 2 teaspoons potato starch
* ½ dl (50 ml) milk
* 1 – 1 ½ teaspoon salt
* ½ – 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 egg
* butter

METHOD:
1. Mix the ground meat with egg, salt, pepper, milk and potato starch.
2. By hand form into small balls 25 mm – 30 mm (1″- 1½”) in diameter.
3. Heat a skillet with butter to medium-high heat.
4. Fill the skillet about half full with the meatballs.
5. Fry them for about 7 – 10 minutes.
6. Shake the skillet to keep the meatballs turning and to cook them evenly.
7. When they are browned, take them out of the pan, keep them warm until ready to serve.

Cook them in the oven when you want to make large quantities. That is easier. Preheat oven to 200 – 225°C [ab. 400°F]. Place the meatballs on a greased baking sheet. Cook in the centre of the oven for about 15 – 20 minutes. Turn them around with a spoon a couple of times.

I serve my meatballs with cooked potatoes, a mushroom stew, red currant jelly and cooked broccoli bouquets.

Mushroom stew:

INGREDIENTS:
* 250 -300 g fresh champignons (white mushroom, button mushroom)
* butter
* 1 tablespoon flour
* 3 dl whipping cream
* salt and pepper
* 2 tablespoons sherry or port (optional)

METHOD:
1. Clean and slice the champignons, as thinly as possible.
2. Heat butter in a saucepan, add champignons.
3. Fry the champignons,
4. Turn them around now and then until all liguid has evapurated.
5. Add more butter, sprinkle with flour and mix well.
6. Season with salt and pepper, add whipping cream, a little at a time.
7. Simmer for at least half an hour on low heat, stirring.
8. Add more whipping cream if necessary.
9. When the stew is glossy and nice, and has a delicious taste you may add wine.

Originally posted 2007-08-15 23:17:10.

With John McIntire, Richard Kiley, Otto Hulett and many more. The movie is from 14 August 1955 and directed by Phil Karlson

Originally posted 2008-01-09 21:03:35.

INGREDIENTS:
Serves 4

* 1 large yellow onion
* 200 g fresh mushrooms
* 300 g ground meat
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 3 cloves garlic, pressed
* 2 teaspoons chinese soy
* 3 – 4 dl (300 – 400 ml) cream
* cayenne pepper
* salt

METHOD:
1. Chop the onion and slice the mushrooms thinly.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet, fry and crumble the ground meat.
3. Add onion and mushroom.
4. Lower the heat, simmer for 5 – 7 minutes, and give it a stir now and then.
5. Add garlic, and season to taste with cayenne pepper.
6. Stir in cream and soy.
7. Simmer, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes.
8. Taste with salt.

Let´s have a Pasta Sauce Potlock Party!

There will be a large bowl with cooked tagliatelli, grated parmesan and salad on the table. I serve my sauce. You bring yours. I am thrilled! What will it be? A ragout or a sauce?

Originally posted 2007-08-16 08:33:52.

The movie was directed by Bob Rafelson and he also wrote the story. It won a Golden Glob and one other nomination. Location if Birmingham, Alabama, USA and some of the actress and actors are Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

See an early Arnold doing what he does best playing a guy who wants to become Mr. Universe.

Originally posted 2008-01-11 22:49:15.