Stories that warrant watching: EDS / HP, Microsoft, IBM, Adobe

EDS Employees Take a Haircut Courtesy of HP IBM taking out more employees?

VentureBeat reports that some EDS workers will face pay cuts of 29-47%. Additionally, more employees may be terminated come September 1. IBM is rumored to be sharpening the axe in its Global Services group to the tune of 16,000 employees this year.

Consultancies have a real issue with adjusting pay as they often succumb to market pressures in booming economies to raise pay levels but find it really hard to retract those market increases in a down market. If pay rate changes are tough, managing workforce levels in a volatile economy is even harder and considerably more painful. Whether you lose part or all of your paycheck, it hurts.

Word is that Microsoft Gets One of Its Products Barred From US Sales

If you haven’t been watching anything this week, you might have missed the Texas’ judge’s ruling prohibiting the sale of Microsoft Word in the United States. It’s a patent infringement case that might produce some interesting, but short-lived, side effects. Right now, I’m expecting some enterprising, offshore spammers are planning to deluge us with emails with headlines like:

“GET YOUR MICROSOFT WORD AND VIAGRA HERE!”

“WE’VE GOT YOUR OFFICIAL MICROSOFT WORD – ACT NOW WHILE SUPPLIES EXIST!”

“DON’T LET A TX JUDGE STOP YOU FROM GETTING THE MICROSOFT WORD YOU NEED”

If you want to read the two page court order, click here

Adobe Flash cookies – Leaving a bad taste?

Ages ago, privacy types were concerned that cookies were a problem for computer users. Most of that concern was unwarranted but recent revelations about Adobe Flash cookies may warrant a second look. Check out the story and see if you feel you need a bit more protection for your computer.