Reg Tech Panel

As we all know, cold logic and due diligence are only part of the story when it comes to buying and deploying technology. For a myriad of reasons, we are all subject to ‘the buzz’ – that is, the swirling clouds of fact, opinion and hearsay that accompany IT vendors wherever they go. To separate the leaders from the laggards, who better to ask than our very own Register research panel – that’s you, dear readers.

Of course, a vendor could be high up the list, but not necessarily for all the right reasons. For this reason we split our findings into three: first was general mindshare, but we also looked more specifically at leadership, and culture/ethos.

So, how did our much-loved vendors rank? Top of the mindshare list was Microsoft, closely followed by Dell – laudable perhaps, apart from the fact that the two companies aren’t so highly placed in the other two rankings. Meanwhile, the crown for both mindshare and culture/ethos goes squarely to VMware, which has single-handedly created – and largely occupied – a global software market. Cue applause.

More lowly were (currently being absorbed) BEA and such companies as Nortel and CA – Nortel proving how difficult it can be to return to form when one has been on the ropes, and CA showing that a reputation, once acquired, can be difficult to shake off.

Ultimately, it could be argued (and indeed, it will be by the companies lower down in the rankings) that such factors as the buzz are not as relevant as the ability of products to do the job. This is a fair perspective, but the first job is to get through the door. As any celebrity will tell you, things come a heck of a lot easier to the A-listers than the Z-listers.

To see the full report, click here.