ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Former Microsoft senior VP Joachim Kempin tells Reuters Microsoft needs a change in leadership-- even if CEO Steve Ballmer "systematically" forces out any potential challengers to his leadership.

"For Microsoft to really get back in the game seriously, you need a big change in management," Kempin says. "As much as I respect Steve Ballmer, he may be part of that in the end."

Kempin worked at Microsoft from 1983 to 2002 and is the author of "Resolve and Fortitude: Microsoft's 'Secret Power Broker' Breaks His Silence". His leaving Microsoft was mired in controversy following the use of a number of contracts he crafted with PC makers as ammo against Microsoft in the 1998-2002 antitrust prosecutions by the US government.

According to Kempin, Ballmer has repeatedly ousted potential rivals to the CEO throne he occupied since 2000. This was first seen in 2002 departure Richard Belluzzo (former Microsoft COO and Xbox console creator), and more recently with the November 2012 leaving of Windows boss Steven Sinofsky.

Consumer IT interviews V.M. Chandrasekar, MD of Global Distribution FZE, nearly a billion-dollar global IT distributor based in Dubai

The IT world is changing with the speed of light and companies that fail to keep pace will simply die, says a key Dubai-headquartered IT distributor.

V.M  Chandrasekar, founder-group managing director of Global Distribution FZE, spoke to us while on the occasion of  his company’s international executive meeting. Chandrasekar flew in 25 key of his business heads from around the world for a three-day conference in Dubai to brainstorm innovative ways to ensure his company keeps changing with the times.

Established in 2001, the $900-million Global Distribution FZE operates in Europe (Germany, Austria, The Netherlands), Latin America (14 countries including Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela and the Caribbean), India and the Middle East. With a 35% year-on -year growth, it works through a network of over 50 offices, has 80,000 sq ft warehouse space and employs over 650 people worldwide. It deals in finished goods and components and its partners include top names such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, LG, SAP, Cisco, WD, Xerox, Seagate and others

In a Q&A session, Chandrasekar-- a man who has personally witnessed the IT space transform itself over the years-- brings us up-to-date with his views on the current IT distribution market.

Fujitsu launches an addition to the ScanSnap series-- the ScanSnap iX500 scanner with built-in wifi connectivity allowing "PC-less" scanning to Android and iOS mobile devices.

Also compatible with Mac OS and Windows PCs via USB 3.0, the iX500 takes a "scan-to-everywhere" approach with easy scanning to cloud-based storage services such as Evernote, Google Docs, Dropbox, SugarSync and Salesforce.

The scanners appears on Windows PCs as a "ScanSnap Folder," essentially a Windows folder one can open from any program or web application.

A built-in GI processor creates pdf files at up to 25 double-sided colour pages per minute (300dpi, colour) while "Separation Roller" technology maximises feeding reliability across a wide range of documents and paper sizes.

After scanning the fully customisable Quick Menu provides the ideal application for the user's needs.

Go Fujitsu Unveils ScanSnap iX500 Scanner

Hauppauge launches a pair of follow-ups to the HD PVR, its first consumer-priced HD capture device-- the HD PVR 2 model 1512 and the HD PVR 2 GE Plus.

The HD PVR 2 model 1512 is designed for home media enthusiasts. It carries a built-in HD video recorder, an IR blaster and connects to STBs (via component or HDMI) and PC HDDs. Included Hauppauge WinTV v7.2 software handles recordings at preset times.

The recorder is also compatible with Windows 7 and 8 versions of Windows Media Centre.

Meanwhile the HD PVR 2 GE Plus is a more advanced model designed for use with Xbox 360, PS3 and PC game systems. It adds SPDIF and surround sound audio to game recordings (saved in H.264 format) and is bundled with the StreamEez application for live streaming on Twitch or Ustream.

Both models will be available in Europe from February 2013.

Go Hauppauge HD Video Recorders