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I want to finish the following exams, if possible, in the next 2 years

IBM Lotus 8 Systems Administration Certifcation – 4 papers

IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 System Administration Operating Fundamentals
IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Building the Infrastructure
IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Managing Servers and Users
IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Configuring Domino Web Servers

Microsoft Windows 2008 Server Certification – 4 papers

Windows 2008 Active Directory Configuration
Windows 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
Windows 2008 Configuring Applications Infrastructure
Windows 2008 Windows Server Administration
Windows 2008 Enterprise Administrator

NCFM exams – 4 papers

Capital Markets
Mutual Funds
Commodities Market
Derivatives Market

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Wonder where will i find the motivation, money and time to finish all the exams ?

Above picture courtesy: Gailsussmanmiller

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Intel unveiled the Xeon 7400 family of server processors, code-named Dunnington, including its first six-core design. The range includes three low-voltage versions, whereas the 7300 range had one, and Intel is claiming “the lowest watts-per-core usage of any device in their category”.

It’s the first microprocessor for the mass market that [Intel] has developed almost exclusively at its design centre in Bangalore in a milestone for the research and development of computer hardware in India.

“It’s not just services and software that India is known for but this shows you also can do this kind of complex research and development and product design here in India,” said Praveen Vishakantaiah, president of Intel India.

AMD is trailing Intel at the 45nm level, and its six-core server processor, code-named Istanbul, isn’t expected until next year.

Intel has already benefited from developing chips outside the US. Its lab in Israel came up with the Banias processor used in the original Centrino design for laptops. Intel then abandoned the US-designed high-clock-speed Pentium NetBurst architecture and switched to the new Core Duo design, Yonah. A six-core chip isn’t exactly a novel idea but success should certainly enhance the Bangalore lab’s credibility.

News from: Guardian UK

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There was a PC show here in Singapore – Comex 2008.  Had been wanting to buy a cheap and good laptop and also a digital camera (if my budget permitted).  And, i got both my wishes fulfilled

Acer Extensa 5620

Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB DDR-2 RAM
320 GB Hard disk
15.4″ display
DVD RW
Bluetooth, Wirelss WIFI link, Gigabit network card
Integrated Crystal Eye 0.3 Miegapixel webcam

Nikon Coolpix L16

A 4GB memory card, a tripod, scratch resistant cover for the display LCD free along with the camera.

Always wanted to get a Digital SLR camera (preferably Nikon) , but then felt that the money is better spent investing.  Else, i would have another expensive toy rotting away in some corner of the house.  Just like the others. Anyway, am happy

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Infosys Technologies said on Monday it had agreed to buy British consultancy Axon Group Plc for £407m (US$753m) as India’s second-biggest software services exporter looks for growth beyond an uncertain U.S. market.

The cash deal values Axon at £6 per share, a 19.4 per cent premium over Friday’s close of £5.025 and 33 per cent over the average price of the last six months, Infosys CEO Kris Gopalakrishnan said.

The offer price included any interim dividend that Axon, which has a market value of almost US$600m, may announce when it releases results on Tuesday, Infosys said. The Axon board has already ”unanimously recommended” the offer, with its large shareholders and some key employees also supporting the deal, Infosys CFO V. Balakrishnan said.

”They wanted to enter Europe in a big way, and probably this is the reason why they have paid a higher premium,” said R. K. Gupta, managing director of Taurus Mutual Fund in New Delhi.

”It’s a positive sign for the company because they were sitting on a huge cash pile, and it was not generating any return.”

Subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, Nasdaq-listed Infosys expects to complete the deal in November. Axon, which provides services to companies using products of German business software maker SAP, would be delisted, Infosys said.

Rest of the news here.

Above picture of Infosys Mysore courtesy: Karthik

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Hyderabad will soon have Infosys’ largest campus worldwide. Currently, Bengaluru hosts the company’s largest centre. The director of Infosys, Mr Mohandas Pai, said this after the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, performed the groundbreaking ceremony of Infosys’ second campus at Pocharam on the outskirts of the city.

Mr Pai, said, “This campus, once it is ready, will be the largest campus of Infosys worldwide. The campus, spread over 447 acres, will have five million sq. ft area as compared to Bangalore centre’s four million. The campus will have five development centres and 1,000 room residential accommodation,” he said.

The centre, which has got platinum rating in eco-friendliness, will use solar power, solar water heating and will have best waste water and rainfall management systems. With its 25 megawatt power backup, the centre will not have to deal with the city’s unreliable power distribution system. Infosys chairman Mr Narayana Murthy said the campus will seat 25,000 people and will be developed in three phases in 10 years.

News courtesy: Deccan Chronicle.  Above picture courtesy: Spinellis

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