Gartner: Virtualization Is Too Expensive
Power and cooling concerns will die out like last years' fashion with the arrival of specialist technology in 2011, but Bittman said data centers will need to endure insufficient technology until then.
"Power and cooling requires densities that current equipment can't handle [but] you will need to survive a few years before it is resolved," Bittman said.
Sargent pointed out increasing densities and shrinking technology is causing grief with IT managers trying to cap power use in their data centers.
Windows and Linux will split over the next few years to meet the rising demands in thin computing which will rival the need for a centralized operating system.
"The need for a deep, general Windows and Linux will grow, but thin computing will demand a [stripped down] OS which will basically be a smaller runtime application for streaming to thin clients," Bittman said.
On the outsourcing front, big players will sink as small dynamic vendors soak up business from SMBs.
"Large companies that currently dominate the market will retain their governance while smaller, cheaper outsourcers will soak up [menial] tasks outsourced by SMBs," he said.
IT managers should focus on improving business agility and culture, noting that the best way to improve the former is to ask customers what their service expectations are.
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