Best reviews of 2011

	Ubuntu breaks from the Linux pack | Palo Alto earns short list status
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	Hands-on review: Xoom battles iPad 2 to a draw We got our hands on the two hottest products in the tablet computing market -- the Motorola Xoom and the iPad 2 and put them to the test. This was a 15-round heavyweight fight and in the end, the Xoom stood toe to toe with the reigning champ, iPad 2. Read More WHITE PAPER: CA Technologies The Changing Role of IT This white paper analyzes research conducted by IDG Research Services about the changing role of IT: what's driving the change, what skill-sets will be more valued and what should forward-looking IT executives consider as IT shifts increasingly towards an IT supply chain model. Learn More In this Issue Ubuntu breaks from the Linux pack Palo Alto earns short list status How to protect smartphones and tablets Cisco impresses with UCS Cisco sets the bar for mobile security iPad 2 vs. business class tablets New security tools protect virtual machines Splunk explains it all First look at Windows Azure RESOURCE COMPLIMENTS OF: Alcatel-Lucent Discover the new currency for the networked-community age Alcatel-Lucent's Allison Cerra and Christina James spent a year pursuing the essence of identity in the virtual world and beyond. With Identity Shift, they examine how technology, identity and expectations intersect, offering a compelling look at how we present and protect ourselves, build trust, and find value in the networked-community age. Click to continue Ubuntu breaks from the Linux pack Ubuntu 11.04 (nicknamed Natty Narwhal) marks a decided change in direction for the Linux-based operating system. The biggest change is that Canonical, the organizer of Ubuntu, is replacing the Gnome/KDE desktop environment with a new user interface called Unity. Read More Palo Alto earns short list status Palo Alto Networks has injected excitement and innovation into the firewall market with its "next-generation" appliances that combine traditional firewalls, threat mitigation technologies such as anti-malware and intrusion prevention, and the new magic dust of application identification. Read More How to protect smartphones and tablets We set up a comprehensive test that included eight mobile devices, four operating systems, two service providers and five mobile management vendors. Read More WHITE PAPER: Quest Software Separating the Virtualization Hype from Reality Download this paper today and get an exclusive link to a free desktop virtual assessment! Click on the link at the end of the paper to analyze and report on your current network, user and application usage. Read Now! Cisco impresses with UCS If you're tempted to think of Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) as just another blade server — don't. In fact, if you just want a bunch of blades for your computer room, don't call Cisco — Dell, HP, and IBM all offer simpler and more cost-effective options. But, if you want an integrated compute farm consisting of blade servers and chassis, Ethernet and Fibre Channel interconnects, and a sophisticated management system, then UCS might be for you. Read More Cisco sets the bar for mobile security Cisco has been a leader in remote access VPNs since 1999, and its latest release, the AnyConnect Secure Mobility Solution, will make both end users and network managers very happy, despite a few rough parts. Read More iPad 2 vs. business class tablets Tech lovers have been flocking to the iPad 2 and other tablets in order to watch movies, read books, surf the Web and make video calls on the latest, greatest, thinnest, lightest, coolest devices. But where do tablets fit within the enterprise? Read More WHITE PAPER: VeriSign Protecting Your Critical Information Infrastructure A strategy that assures the availability and reliability of vital resources while protecting them from malicious attacks is at the core of network operations and security. This paper defines four key components of such a strategy, and offers a practical set of guidelines for ensuring its success. Read Now! New security tools protect virtual machines 5-product test reveals differences between Reflex, Catbird, Beyond Trust, Hytrust and Trend Micro. Read More Splunk explains it all Enterprise-class product devours log data and delivers powerful analysis of security issues. Read More First look at Windows Azure Microsoft's vision of a Windows-only cloud is ambitious, but too many features are currently still in beta. Read More
	SLIDESHOWS 10 Things We Love and Hate about Ubuntu Oneiric Ocelot 11.10 Ubuntu 11.10 has some jagged edges and documentation isn't easy to locate, but Canonical is certainly dreaming big with this latest update, dubbed Oneiric (dreamy) Ocelot. GOODIES FROM MICROSOFT SUBNET Everyone who enters will win free training from Webucator. Grand prize: a SharePoint training class worth $2,375. All who enter will be awarded a self-paced class of their choosing. Enter here: http://www.networkworld.com/community/contests. Enter here. MOST-READ STORIES Windows 8 picture password is 'Fisher-Price toy' Dem PAC buys newtgingrich.com, wallops him with it DHS sued for Big Bro fake 'friends' monitoring social media iPad 3 rumor rollup for the week ending Dec. 20 Data center, cloud fabrics to heat up in 2012 25 useful iPad business apps IPv6 due for wide deployment in 2012, experts say Extreme CEO: New products in 2012, growth in 2013 25 top network and IT industry news stories of 2011 Top security incidents of 2011
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